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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circus
Caricatured by Honoré Daumier and his lesser followers always as a mountebank, a charlatan, a circus clown, Louis Napoleon could normalize the extent of his outrages by the seeming harmlessness of his absurdities.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
Good morning from Los Angeles, On a circus of a night at Dodger Stadium, the home team emptied out its clown car full of pitchers to beat the Padres once again.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
President Trump and his flying circus are about to meet the consequences of unleashing krakens in their first 100 days.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
In it, three magician brothers reunite from the circus world for one last impossible heist: stealing a priceless twin mummy from an impenetrable fortress to save their family legacy.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for circus
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
Good morning from Los Angeles, On a circus of a night at Dodger Stadium, the home team emptied out its clown car full of pitchers to beat the Padres once again.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
President Trump and his flying circus are about to meet the consequences of unleashing krakens in their first 100 days.
—Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
In it, three magician brothers reunite from the circus world for one last impossible heist: stealing a priceless twin mummy from an impenetrable fortress to save their family legacy.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 16 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
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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
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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
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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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Earlier in the evening, with Minor sitting on stage as Lakers broadcaster John Ireland emceed the banquet, Tae Crowder, the 2020 honoree who never had a banquet or other Irrelevant activities in his honor because of the pandemic, joined Minor on stage in a poignant exhibit of fraternity.—
Richard Dunn,
Oc Register,
3 July 2025
Noun
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Despite the loss, Friday night was a lot of fun inside the coliseum.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
14 June 2025
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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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Star Spangled Symphony in the Rockies Colorado Springs is famed for its annual Fourth of July spectacle with the city's Star Spangled Symphony.—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The sequel promises to deliver bigger spectacle and higher stakes.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/circus. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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