circus

noun

ˈsər-kəs How to pronounce circus (audio)
Definition of circusnext
1
as in madhouse
a place of uproar or confusion with seven kids in the house, it's a circus most of the time

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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

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3
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

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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 There are also witch storytelling sessions, circus workshops and the popular Pip and Posy trail. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026 That includes everything from a Leonard Cohen tribute from Avourneen’s Adam Goldstein to plays, authors, live music, experimental circus, comedy, dance and even a Jewish Dating Game. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Even Barnum understood that the public can balance a three ring circus and not follow the carnival barking of the ringmaster. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 Osinski’s collection of Polish circus posters similarly ties the interiors to his family history. — Amira Hashish, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
  1. madhouse
  2. pageant
  3. stadium
  4. bedlam
  5. exhibit
  6. coliseum
  7. exhibition
  8. spectacle
Noun
  • Whereas this evening in the Spanish Gothic madhouse of the United Theater, most every song from Melanie’s Hadean pageant is received with near word-perfect communalism.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026
  • Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of madhouse
Noun
  • They’re then forced to compete in a beauty pageant, wearing lingerie and swimsuits, which Galán considers to be the ultimate motivator.
    — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Desperate to regain her dominance while dazzling pageant recruiter Eloise Amponsah (Tony Award winner Patina Miller), who was Miss Ghana 1966, Paulina launches a campaign to crush Ericka’s spirit and dash her chances in the spotlight.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of pageant
Noun
  • After co-headlining with Charli xcx at the peak of Brat Summer, Sivan was struck by his post-show emotional crash, when the roar of stadiums gave way to the quiet of being totally on his own.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
  • When Colorado plays at home in Boulder, the team typically stays at a nearby hotel in the Broomfield area, just a few miles from the stadium.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of stadium
Noun
  • There wasn’t quite as much Phillies bedlam in Georgia on Wednesday.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But this is preposterous, this is insanity, this is the very essence of bedlam.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bedlam
Noun
  • Temporary exhibits have ranged from a look at American paintings in the 1930s to French art critic Guillaume Apollinaire.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibit was recognition of Cole's success attracting younger fans who enjoy such shenanigans as a pitcher throwing the ball while on stilts and outs being counted when a fan catches a foul ball in the stands.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhibit
Noun
  • The center will remove 2,000 spaces from its lot that is frequently used for coliseum events.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
  • On the afternoon of commencement, in May, about a thousand people filed into the United Supermarkets Arena, the basketball coliseum where Texas Tech confers its law degrees.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of coliseum
Noun
  • Adebayo and most of the Heat’s rotation regulars were held out of Saturday’s exhibition against the Timberwolves before Adebayo sat out Wednesday’s preseason game due to his groin ailment.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibition layout, conceived by French designer Pascal Rodriguez, unfolds across four successive spaces, separated by partition walls pierced by large circular openings at their centers.
    — Sarah Belmont for ArtNews, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhibition
Noun
  • The airborne spectacle was a prototype demonstration, not a test of a production-ready vehicle.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The long road to 2028 While the spectacle was undeniable, aviation experts remain skeptical that the vehicle can serve as both a practical road car and a true aircraft.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spectacle

Phrases Containing circus

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circumvents
circus
circuses
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Cite this Entry

“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about circus

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