1
as in madhouse
a place of uproar or confusion
with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pageant
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
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Recent Examples of circus
Or just show up to watch the parade and take in the dancers, marching band, magicians, one-woman circus variety show, and more.
—
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
John Lennon basically saw a poster for a circus event with Henry the Horse, so that essentially became the lyrics to that song.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
But to me, the circus really came to town a few months later in the closing days of the campaign.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Attendees can expect a bilingual show with professional circus artists, musicians and student performers from the circus’ free after-school program.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
John Lennon basically saw a poster for a circus event with Henry the Horse, so that essentially became the lyrics to that song.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
But to me, the circus really came to town a few months later in the closing days of the campaign.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Attendees can expect a bilingual show with professional circus artists, musicians and student performers from the circus’ free after-school program.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
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In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Before her unforgettable appearance in Cool Hand Luke, Harmon was modeling and doing beauty pageants.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
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Dominican Yamilex Hernández, the first Miss Universe Latina, and Vanessa Pulgarín, Miss Universe Colombia 2025, will take part in the inaugural Miss Grand International All Stars pageant, which will be held in Thailand on May 30.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Using animations of Eddie and talking-head interviews with famous fans including Javier Bardem, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Chuck D, and the Cure’s Simon Gallup, among others, the doc traces the group’s East London origins, galvanizing a loyal fanbase that now sees them in arenas and stadiums.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
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In 2026, those damages would be stadium-size.—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At one point during the bedlam, a firework appears to be set off in the windshield wiper cowl, with sparks flying into the cruiser's windshield.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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At the end of Saturday night’s game, Kennard did what he had been acquired to do, the reason the Lakers call him off the bench, draining a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left, sending the bench into bedlam and giving the Lakers (46-25) a 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic (38-32).—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Dinosaurs is a 10-acre outdoor attraction featuring more than 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, along with walking trails, live shows and interactive exhibits.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora curated the mobile interactive mural exhibit, which evolved from the existing murals seen in Overtown that highlight the neighborhood’s history, and include a QR code for visitors to scan and learn about the stories behind them.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The coliseum site is just beginning to be reused after being torn down in ’07.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
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Majestically melodic hardcore by way of the Police, their music is both sonically and emotionally strong enough to rock any coliseum.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The latest installments in this series are the most eye-catching of the nearly twenty works in Chan’s exhibition at the gallery Greene Naftali.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Following exhibitions in 2018 and 2019, however, Olympic inclusion was scrapped when COVID-19 delayed the Games.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sam instead proposes that the performer dance to it without music, a prompt that is followed by Anne Hathaway flinging herself across the room, dragging her body across the floor in a hypnotic spectacle that seems to convey struggle, possession, and loss of control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
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And why has the trial between Musk and Altman, which is ramping up to be a true spectacle, captivated Silicon Valley?—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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