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
Relevance
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
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 circus
Hendricks Animal Shelter to host pet adoption during circus
A special pet adoption event in conjunction with the circus will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 27, presented by Hendricks Animal Shelter, according to a news release.
—
Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers or flesh, animals have no freedom.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
The resulting media circus of their incompetence distracts us from their behind-the-scenes actions that are fueling a growing health crisis impacting the very working-class communities that helped deliver Trump his second term.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The circus company Spiegelworld launched its immersive DiscoShow last year at the Linq Hotel, with an attached restaurant called Diner Ross, serving disco fries, green goddess wedge salads, and Midori sours.
—AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers or flesh, animals have no freedom.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
The resulting media circus of their incompetence distracts us from their behind-the-scenes actions that are fueling a growing health crisis impacting the very working-class communities that helped deliver Trump his second term.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The circus company Spiegelworld launched its immersive DiscoShow last year at the Linq Hotel, with an attached restaurant called Diner Ross, serving disco fries, green goddess wedge salads, and Midori sours.
—AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
-
The madhouse of awards season and all its many, many controversies — not to mention an ongoing parade of natural and man-made disasters — has until now perhaps overshadowed some of the year’s lower-stakes joys.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
-
But things move fast in the Goodison madhouse.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Ghosts and fairies and creatures of her own invention abounded in the pageant.—
Daniella Walsh,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
-
The park requires permits for a number of other activities, including: Memorial services, pageants, spectator attractions, entertainment, ceremonies, automobile/motorcycle club rallies, and other special events require a special use permit.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The agreement comes just four months after the Rays backed away from a deal to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, near the site of their longtime home, Tropicana Field.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
Progress is about halfway complete on the domed, state-of-the-art stadium.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
To be fair, Fox didn’t have to search hard for bedlam.—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
11 June 2025
-
No disrespect to those who missed it, but those early screenings of Roland Emmerich's Independence Day were barely contained bedlam.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
On October 11, the museum will debut its family-friendly Sharks exhibit, on view through March 2026.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
-
At the new Ancestral Fishes exhibit, visitors can learn about the fish that were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
The outdoor sets will bookend The Format’s headlining performance in the coliseum.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
-
Despite the loss, Friday night was a lot of fun inside the coliseum.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
This record offensive effort came a year after the league’s annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
20 July 2025
-
Walk through the exhibition and yes, her Hannah Montana impersonator wig is, in fact, there.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Set pieces are teased with just enough spectacle – exploding cars, balletic fight sequences, and globe-trotting vistas – to assure fans that the sequel is raising the stakes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 July 2025
-
But Brown never wanted the deeper emotions of his music and the underlying story of his own personal triumphs and tragedies get lost in the spectacle.—
Scott Huver,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share