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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of circuses
In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses.
—
Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
As a teen-ager, Batten was the president of Animal Connection of Texas, an animal-rights nonprofit, and lobbied for restrictions on travelling circuses.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 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
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—Paolo Santalucia, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
Tom Parker, who had recently quit the circuses and carnivals, was living in Tampa doing small independent promotions.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
As a teen-ager, Batten was the president of Animal Connection of Texas, an animal-rights nonprofit, and lobbied for restrictions on travelling circuses.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 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
Coaches don’t like media circuses, but Jones can’t wean himself off the attention.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Other nominees included the Swiss yodelling, the handloom weaving technique used to make Bangladesh’s Tangail sarees, and Chile’s family circuses.
—Paolo Santalucia, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
Tom Parker, who had recently quit the circuses and carnivals, was living in Tampa doing small independent promotions.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses
Noun
-
Scenes of Japanese soccer fans sweeping stadiums and picking up trash after a match first drew public attention in France in 1998 — Japan’s first appearance in the World Cup.—
Stephen Wade,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This year’s tournament will have 48 teams play 104 matches at 16 stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States, including eight games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hudson previously won a Division 4 NCA Collegiate Championship with Bridgewater State in 2021, and in recent years she's also competed in Miss Maine USA pageants, placing second at the 2024 event and coming in third place in 2025.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Flores Gómez previously competed in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Teen Universe Baja California in 2017.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On the road, ordinary gyms suddenly felt like coliseums.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
General admission is free, though some special exhibitions require tickets.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After an inaugural edition last year, the AIR festival will return to Aspen, Colorado, in July with a program of performances, exhibitions, talks, and other events in the high-flying mountain town.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The insulation from the ceiling snowed down onto virtually every part of the building — exhibits, artifacts, galleries and display cases.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The verdict Elizabeth Creamery isn’t about over-the-top creations or Instagram spectacles.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Salopettes and ski helmets make frequent appearances, along with couples in thick, round spectacles who might be architects—and nearby resident Norman Foster, who most certainly is.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Production’s involvement in paying for cast extravaganzas is something Monique brought up in a confessional interview during season 10.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Mar. 2026
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Every year, these flashy performances — from classic movie-musical extravaganzas to Disney earworms to Bond themes to power ballads — are the highlight of an already ridiculously flashy ceremony.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And 2026 is already off to a bright start, with a buzzy debut novel from Jennette McCurdy, plenty of celebrity memoirs and sci-fi spectaculars.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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Each December, cities around Europe transform into twinkling holiday spectaculars, hosting Christmas markets and general cheer, where the hot cocoa flows like a river.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuses. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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