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

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2
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 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 Now, a scary new criminal clown has joined the ransomware circus and looks like making quite a splash as the first victims fall in less than two weeks after its launch. Davey Winder, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 The white tiger exists only in captivity, in the care of zoos, circuses, rescues, sanctuaries and private residences. Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 But this Dumbo is as flimsy and devoid of emotion as a circus act, relying too heavily on the CGI elephant to generate any real flights of fantasy. Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025 The titular elephant looks fantastic and is almost unbearably adorable, and the excellent production design brings the world of the circus to haunting life. Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
  • Green Day runs off stage mid-song due to unauthorized drone American rock band Green Day rushed off the stage in the middle of their Detroit concert after an unauthorized drone flew over the stadium.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • At soccer stadiums, singing along is a rite of passage.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
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
  • Smith, who ran her own pet grooming business, devoted herself entirely to Piper’s pageant pursuits.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • About 500 attendees showed up at Olive Peirce to support their favorites at the evening session of the pageant, where the young women were tested on their public speaking abilities, knowledge of current events and professional rodeo and evening wear.
    Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The lush, five-star, Orange County resort also boasts a striking coliseum pool, ocean-view golf, a handful of bar and dining establishments and plenty of picturesque walking paths.
    Dahvi Shira, Forbes, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Ridley Scott’s epic return to the coliseum also missed out on best director and leading man, although Denzel Washington — who has never been BAFTA-nominated before — did get a supporting actor slot.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Beer cups flew throughout SoFi Stadium as Jiménez stood tall at the penalty spot admiring the bedlam.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Take Laurent Garnier, who played the song to a gleeful Barcelona crowd shortly after its release, sending them and more than 70,000 viewers into bedlam.
    Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Music fans will be able to see them and many other priceless artifacts from Parton's career at a new exhibit coming soon to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
    Adam Tamburin, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The exhibit, featuring papier-maché sculptures and fiber installations made with paper waste, will run Saturday, April 26, through Saturday, July 19.
    La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • His Círculo de Bellas Artes, a cultural hub that still hosts exhibitions and film screenings, is also home to Azotea, one of the best rooftops in town (and also serving food and drinks).
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 11 Apr. 2025
  • With year-round exhibitions and classes, this center has an active community of members and supporters.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Elite football is very demanding, but anything that makes people enjoy it more and is more of a spectacle.
    Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Without the spectacle of a subscriber gain this time around, the company’s shares ticked up in after-hours trading but by a comparatively modest 4%.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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