as in glass
a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision
bought a pair of spectacles with nonprescription lenses simply to look more intelligent
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Recent Examples of spectacles
An online amalgam of conspicuous consumption, natural wonders, and manmade spectacles — like the world’s tallest tower, Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque, and even, yes, the vivid green of Dubai Chocolate — has propelled the emirates to superlative measures of tourism and consumer behavior.
—
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Election is a ruthless, high-wire satire with its skeptical spectacles trained on authority itself.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Commissions have changed over the years, allowing modern visionaries — art houses and creatives from across the globe — to showcase grand spectacles.
—Niyaz Pirani, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume are handling puppetry and movement — a detail that will immediately make fans wonder what creatures or spectacles might appear onstage.
—Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Ancient Roman gladiatorial games weren’t restricted to brutal spectacles between male pit warriors.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump supporters say the protests are spectacles of no real consequence.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
My lack of Portuguese comprehension skills can’t stop me from enjoying these spectacles of audiovisual harmony.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Man bun, spectacles, house slippers.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Election is a ruthless, high-wire satire with its skeptical spectacles trained on authority itself.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Commissions have changed over the years, allowing modern visionaries — art houses and creatives from across the globe — to showcase grand spectacles.
—Niyaz Pirani, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell of Lume are handling puppetry and movement — a detail that will immediately make fans wonder what creatures or spectacles might appear onstage.
—Ryan Brennan
april 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026
Ancient Roman gladiatorial games weren’t restricted to brutal spectacles between male pit warriors.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump supporters say the protests are spectacles of no real consequence.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
My lack of Portuguese comprehension skills can’t stop me from enjoying these spectacles of audiovisual harmony.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Man bun, spectacles, house slippers.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacles
glass
Noun
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These won’t have an in-lens display like the Meta Ray-Ban Display and are likely to rival the regular, screen-less Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 2) glasses, Gurman adds.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
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Wang, who is fifty-eight and wore rectangular glasses and a big blue campaign button, is still getting the hang of interacting with would-be constituents.—
Gabriel Debenedetti,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spectacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacles. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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