bacchanalia

noun

bac·​cha·​na·​lia ˌba-kə-ˈnāl-yə How to pronounce bacchanalia (audio)
ˌbä-
plural bacchanalia
1
Bacchanalia plural : a Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry
2
bacchanalian adjective or noun

Examples of bacchanalia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1960 and stars one of Fellini’s muses, Marcello Mastroianni, as a tabloid journalist on a week-long bacchanalia through the ancient, yet modern city in search of love and happiness. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024 Branded events at Cannes, Martha’s Vineyard and Sundance have replaced Puff’s bacchanalias, and Michael Rubin’s annual Hamptons White Party is now the place to see and be seen. Amy Dubois Barnett, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024 Unlike recent eat-the-rich offerings, Blink Twice is only partially about ultra-wealthy bacchanalia. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Aug. 2024 That interpretation was common to many viewers, but the artistic director of the ceremony later said the tableau was meant to depict a Greek bacchanalia, and was not staged as a mockery of Christ’s final meal. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for bacchanalia 

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Bacchus

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacchanalia was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near bacchanalia

Cite this Entry

“Bacchanalia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacchanalia. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bacchanalia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!