circuses

noun

plural of circus
1
as in stadiums
a large usually roofless building for sporting events with tiers of seats for spectators the Roman circus is believed to have held 50,000 spectators in ancient times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in madhouses
a place of uproar or confusion with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pageants
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event the media circus that took place outside the courthouse every day of the murder trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of circuses By now, not even third-rate circuses would hire me, much less an outfit like Hep Spyder’s, the World’s Famous Bushwick Circus. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 The best World Cup base camps have tended to be quiet ones, with squads that hole up in small towns and bond away from the spotlight routinely outlasting teams stationed amid bigger circuses. — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Indeed, some of our oligarchs actually own the circuses. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Exotic animals were not typically a feature of carnivals; circuses, yes, but not carnivals. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses. — Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 Signs discussing the use of Blackface and Minstrel music in traveling circuses were submitted. — Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026 The stark reality Stark toured with circuses until the late 1940s, when she was hired by Jungleland, a zoo located outside of Los Angeles. — Alessandro Meregaglia, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026 The idea of a 10% rate cap has all the seriousness of bread-and-circuses governance. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses
  1. stadiums
  2. pageants
  3. coliseums
  4. exhibitions
  5. exhibits
  6. spectacles
  7. extravaganzas
  8. spectaculars
Noun
  • County commissioners said the sales tax would be off-limits to any new stadiums before it was renewed by voters in 2024.
    — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Not necessarily as little leaguers, but as bright-eyed youths fantasizing about one day wearing a big-league uniform, competing in major league stadiums and making their living by playing this children’s game as adults.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stadiums
Noun
  • The 2025 pageants aired on Queen Beauty Network following the May 2024 resignations of Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Amber Uhler, Miss Michigan USA For Amber Uhler, pageants are intertwined in a unique way with her health.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pageants
Noun
  • On the road, ordinary gyms suddenly felt like coliseums.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of coliseums
Noun
  • Its exhibitions, residencies, educational initiatives, and workshops have helped create an emerging local art scene and placed Madagascar on the global art scene’s map.
    — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Zavataro has organized exhibitions centering interdisciplinary artist Linda Alterwitz, landscape painter Phyllis Shafer and sculptor Guillermo Bert, among others.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhibitions
Noun
  • The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, a Smithsonian affiliate, features exhibits and galleries that promote an understanding of Birmingham's role in the Civil Rights Movement.
    — Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Those who make the pilgrimage to Temple Square will encounter a host of other attractions and activities, including new exhibits, live concerts and video projections on the ceiling of the tabernacle.
    — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhibits
Noun
  • But Falcon Heavy is still one of the spectacles that draw crowds for its launch.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • These spectacles drew criticism from animal welfare advocates, who sued the farm.
    — Irus Braverman, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectacles
Noun
  • In those films, Nolan retained his auteurist fire while creating big, bold populist extravaganzas.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • Today, her various closets are brimming with country clothes instead of the designer extravaganzas of yore.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Definition of extravaganzas
Noun
  • Those who visit annually or several times during the year are deeply passionate about the live shows, character meet-and-greets, holiday food specials, seasonal festivals and parades and nighttime spectaculars that these parks provide.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Sure, the city has fantastic architecture, world-class restaurants, Broadway spectaculars, and those oh-so-gorgeous hotels.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectaculars

Browse Nearby Words

circus
circuses
cirque
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Cite this Entry

“Circuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuses. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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