1
as in stadium
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 madhouse
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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of circus
The circus owners, fearing a loss of business, quickly declared that Mary would be executed to appease the public.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
On Wednesday, the pope led his general audience in the Vatican and seemed in good spirits, throwing a tennis ball to a dog during a circus performance.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
If Peacock’s premature attempt to document the Diddy debacle is any indication of the criminal trial to come, then Sean Combs is in for a hell of a media circus.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2025
Trump’s all-caps reaction to Biden’s action shows why capital punishment is as inappropriate to a modern civilization as the Roman circuses that spilled blood for sport.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for circus 
Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
On Wednesday, the pope led his general audience in the Vatican and seemed in good spirits, throwing a tennis ball to a dog during a circus performance.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
If Peacock’s premature attempt to document the Diddy debacle is any indication of the criminal trial to come, then Sean Combs is in for a hell of a media circus.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2025
Trump’s all-caps reaction to Biden’s action shows why capital punishment is as inappropriate to a modern civilization as the Roman circuses that spilled blood for sport.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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Four years later, in the same stadium, Jackson looked like he might be mired in another regrettable effort.—
Michael Silver,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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That’s why the country has two aircraft carriers and a hundred-billion-pound nuclear-weapons program, but the entire British Army could fit inside Manchester United’s soccer stadium, with a few seats to spare.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Welcome to the madhouse.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2022
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Life around the office, which included a basketball court and beer on tap, was a preview of the headquarters-as-madhouse ethos soon to dominate Silicon Valley.—
Alex Williams,
New York Times,
14 Oct. 2022
Noun
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In 1984, Williams became the first Black woman to win the Miss America pageant.—
Danny Horn,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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But Greenwood’s affiliation with Trump stems from an association with Greenwood's wife, Kimberly, who was the executive director of the Miss Tennessee USA pageant in the 1990s, when Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organization.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Reata at the Backstage Club, a nostalgic restaurant and bar atop the old rodeo coliseum, is open for dinner five days a week and lunch weekends.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2025
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The arena’s gate, for example, stands 6 meters higher than that of the original coliseum to allow for the mast of a boat to enter the space in a pivotal scene.—
Andrés Buenahora,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The hallway outside the Hollis apartment by now is complete bedlam: Drop the f—--g knife!—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
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The bedlam came during the third quarter of the game in Nanterre, France, which was part of the FIBA Basketball Champions League.—
Bradford Betz,
Fox News,
19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The exhibit also provides an intimate look at how the writer struggled with class restrictions during the Regency period.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
17 Jan. 2025
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The site, which documents the legacy of slavery in America, uses first-person narratives, art, educational exhibits, and interactive media to tell a comprehensive story.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The work would garner him first prize at the Audubon Artists exhibition in 1946, a recognition that propelled his career.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
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When innovation flourishes so does a desire for design, as evidenced by the success of the Atlanta Design Festival, which launched in 2007 and brings exhibitions, expert panels, and architecture tours to the community.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The film doesn’t paint him as a cautionary tale, treat him like a metaphor, or revel in the spectacle of his struggles.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
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Men on couches everywhere appreciate that their body type is represented on the screen, and the women beside them swoon at the spectacle of men voluntarily sweeping and communicating.—
Daniel Foster,
National Review,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near circus
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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