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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circus
When a pencil pusher seized control of England’s most beloved circus, rumors of the wrong kind of funny business arose
People began to suspect something was wrong when the clown failed to appear.
—
Air Mail, 28 June 2025
The clown from Poltergeist put a generation off of those circus entertainers years before Pennywise appeared onscreen.
—Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 28 June 2025
Cottle learned the joy of entertainment from his father, who owned a circus throughout Cottle’s childhood.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
Her murder sparked a media circus that incorrectly pointed the finger at multiple suspects, including her husband and son.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Air Mail, 28 June 2025
The clown from Poltergeist put a generation off of those circus entertainers years before Pennywise appeared onscreen.
—Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 28 June 2025
Cottle learned the joy of entertainment from his father, who owned a circus throughout Cottle’s childhood.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
Her murder sparked a media circus that incorrectly pointed the finger at multiple suspects, including her husband and son.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circus
Noun
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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
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Jordon was a cheerleader in high school and college, attended Bridgewater State, and remains active on the pageant circuit.—
Bill Speros,
Boston Herald,
25 June 2025
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Fans are also able to purchase POP Pageant Package tickets, which allow access to a pre-show pageant that includes VIP-only merch, a laminate, and early access to venues.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Noun
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The council is now pushing back its timeline for approving the stadium deal, citing the need to complete multiple studies and hold public hearings.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 July 2025
-
Periods of clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm; not as hot but humid 🏈 Politics: Commissioners pledged public hearings on a stadium deal.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
7 July 2025
Noun
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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
-
The overthrow of Yemen’s government hatched Houthi dominance; the fall of Libya’s Muammar al-Qaddafi yielded bedlam, instability, and violence.—
HUSSEIN AGHA,
Foreign Affairs,
23 June 2025
Noun
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This column, adapted from remarks at the opening of the PragerU Founders Museum exhibit last month, was originally published by RealClearEducation and made available via RealClearWire.—
Linda McMahon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 July 2025
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There are about 100 book exhibitors, special exhibits, a local talent performance stage and food trucks planned for the event.—
Craig Shoup,
The Tennessean,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Despite the loss, Friday night was a lot of fun inside the coliseum.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2025
-
Designed as a coastal oasis, its coliseum pool features a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, with scenic views of the luscious Pelican Hill Golf Club.—
Dahvi Shira,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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This is an exhibition — his exhibition — titled ‘Football City, Art United’, part of the biennial Manchester International Festival.—
Mark Critchley,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
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Roughly a quarter are on display at two permanent exhibitions — their original museum in Orlando and their Las Vegas flagship — as well as five traveling shows circling the globe.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Only then can future World Cup’s begin to credibly deliver the basics of sustainability and safety, without the drama of sweat, storms, or scandal overshadowing the spectacle.—
Claire Poole,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
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The quality of November’s war was only magnified in retrospect by the complete lack of substance in that evening’s main event: a snooze-fest spectacle between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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