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
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Recent Examples of circus
Verizon hooked us up with tickets to Shaq’s part festival, part carnival, part circus—Shaq’s legendary party is exactly as advertised: FUN.
—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025
San Diego designer David Israel Reynoso earned a Tony nomination for his imaginative circus costumes.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles were here two years ago so they weren’t fazed by the silliness either, though their most dynamic player is new to the wild experience that could overwhelm teams that aren’t used to the circus atmosphere.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
One of the biggest has become Shaq’s Fun House, which rages from Friday night to 3 a.m. Saturday at Mardi Gras World, featuring carnival rides, circus acts and music by John Summit, Ludacris and Shaq himself in his D.J. Diesel persona.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025
San Diego designer David Israel Reynoso earned a Tony nomination for his imaginative circus costumes.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles were here two years ago so they weren’t fazed by the silliness either, though their most dynamic player is new to the wild experience that could overwhelm teams that aren’t used to the circus atmosphere.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
One of the biggest has become Shaq’s Fun House, which rages from Friday night to 3 a.m. Saturday at Mardi Gras World, featuring carnival rides, circus acts and music by John Summit, Ludacris and Shaq himself in his D.J. Diesel persona.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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Architect Christopher Lee, who has designed multiple Premier League venues, believes this trend toward exclusive clubs within stadiums is the future.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2025
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There were celebrities everywhere, from Pete Rose to Larry King to director Dennis Dugan, who helped design the stadium.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Welcome to the madhouse.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2022
-
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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Marla, his second, hosted the Miss Universe pageants.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes,
1 Feb. 2025
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According to Larry Strong, Duggins' former pageant director, Duggins was a two-time former Miss Kansas contestant.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When those ten are selected, cheers ring out from the coliseum grandstands, for these animals are all but guaranteed to attract $20,000 to $30,000 at auction.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Feb. 2025
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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
Noun
-
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
-
For those seeking a break from the cold, the zoo’s indoor areas, including the tropical house and rainforest exhibit, offer a welcome escape into warmer climates.—
David Nikel,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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In exchange for the government's approval, SpaceX will support the creation of a space exhibit in the Bahamas showcasing hardware and a SpaceX spacesuit, invest $1 million in the University of the Bahamas, and provide Starlink Internet connectivity to remote parts of the nation.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The exhibition will be divided into three sections.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
25 Feb. 2025
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Anthony Le and Phillipa Pham Hughes, the duo behind the Vietnamese art collective Vagabond, curated the exhibition.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Pairing him next to Aaron Judge among other Yankees stars would be quite a spectacle in the Bronx.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
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What started as a private spat had turned into a public spectacle.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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