freak show

noun

: an exhibition (such as a sideshow) featuring freaks of nature

Examples of freak show in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The 1933 World’s Fair, in Chicago, featured an exhibit known as the American Chamber of Horrors—a kind of food-and-drug freak show of products that were up to no good. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023 While some members of the disability community see the Mütter as an offensive freak show, others see it as a place where people can learn about their rare conditions. Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 27 July 2023 Riot Fest will also feature freak shows, Lucha Libre wrestling, carnival rides, a wedding chapel, free old-school arcade games from Logan Arcade, panel discussions, and late-night shows in several Chicago venues. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 16 May 2023 If sports is a carnival, the A’s are the midway freak show. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2023 This isn’t some kind of freak show. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 26 Apr. 2022 Signage, tents, sideshows, concession stands, freak shows, the Hank Snow Show, food stands, wagons and carriages were all fabricated in New Zealand by the film’s art department, with only the Ferris wheel, carousel and swing chair brought in from vintage sources. Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2023 That was a real freak show. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 13 Oct. 2022 All that really mattered was the freak show. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'freak show.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of freak show was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near freak show

Cite this Entry

“Freak show.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freak%20show. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!