CIRCUSES Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

circuses

noun

plural of circus

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

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

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

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 circuses These feats would later move to circuses but, despite its proud history, strongman only became an official sport in 1977 with the inaugural World’s Strongest Man. — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 By now, not even third-rate circuses would hire me, much less an outfit like Hep Spyder’s, the World’s Famous Bushwick Circus. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 The best World Cup base camps have tended to be quiet ones, with squads that hole up in small towns and bond away from the spotlight routinely outlasting teams stationed amid bigger circuses. — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Indeed, some of our oligarchs actually own the circuses. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 Exotic animals were not typically a feature of carnivals; circuses, yes, but not carnivals. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 In terms of performances and safety, the Triton Troupers Circus is like other circuses. — Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuses

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
The kingdom is still proceeding with plans for other new stadiums including one in Dhahran being developed by Saudi Aramco, and the King Salman International Stadium and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Riyadh.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of stadiums

Noun

Because JonBenét had won several child beauty pageants, images of her in makeup and garish costumes created a spectacle around the case (which is still unsolved), and around the Ramseys.

— Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
Sisic was crowned Miss Austria in 2024, and continued to hold the title as there were no further pageants after that, the outlets reported.

— Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of pageants

Noun

Entry to exhibitions will also be free for visitors aged 26 and under, among several other groups.

— Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Unlike most other recurring art exhibitions, Rubaiaya Qatar will be made up of three separate shows at three different institutions and will also include a public art component.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhibitions

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
Today the home to the New York Hall of Science, the outdoor exhibits includes the Rocket Park, where Gemini-Titan II and Mercury-Atlas D rockets and a Saturn V F-1 engine still stand.

— Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhibits

Noun

What readers are saying The comments reflect a strong opposition to the idea of live-streaming an execution, with many criticizing it as barbaric and likening it to historical spectacles of violence.

— Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Once public spectacles, executions now occur privately inside prisons, with only a handful of official witnesses and a press pool.

— Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of spectacles

Noun

Those who visit annually or several times during the year are deeply passionate about the live shows, character meet-and-greets, holiday food specials, seasonal festivals and parades and nighttime spectaculars that these parks provide.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Sure, the city has fantastic architecture, world-class restaurants, Broadway spectaculars, and those oh-so-gorgeous hotels.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of spectaculars

Browse Nearby Words

circus

circuses

cirque

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of circuses

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes