1
as in pageant
an elaborate, visually exciting show or event
the multimedia spectacles that have become established parts of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in glass
spectacles plural
a pair of lenses set in a frame that is held in place with ear supports and which are usually worn to correct vision
bought a pair of spectacles with nonprescription lenses simply to look more intelligent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spectacle
Tonight’s co-chairs include Williams, Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé — who is returning to the event after a decade-long hiatus — along with Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who is credited with transforming the Met Gala into a global spectacle of entertainment and patronage.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
No matter what unfolds over Tuesday and Wednesday, the Champions League final promises to be a spectacle with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG all exceptional in their own way.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 4 May 2026
In this production, reflective pauses become multimedia spectacles.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026
Arden’s vampire spectacle has the muscle, the budget and a leading 11 nominations from the Outer Critics Circle.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
No matter what unfolds over Tuesday and Wednesday, the Champions League final promises to be a spectacle with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG all exceptional in their own way.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 4 May 2026
In this production, reflective pauses become multimedia spectacles.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026
Arden’s vampire spectacle has the muscle, the budget and a leading 11 nominations from the Outer Critics Circle.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spectacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spectacle
Noun
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Jr Teen pageant again the weekend of April 10 in Wiltshire.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
The nearly 100-year-old tradition is celebrated with pageants at schools and other festivities.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The defensive spark plug somehow jumped higher than any Nuggets forward did for a rebound in Minneapolis last Thursday night, chest-thumping the glass at the top of his leap.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
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These tests revealed how sodium ions integrate into the glass network and alter its structure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Dinosaurs is a 10-acre outdoor attraction featuring more than 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, along with walking trails, live shows and interactive exhibits.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora curated the mobile interactive mural exhibit, which evolved from the existing murals seen in Overtown that highlight the neighborhood’s history, and include a QR code for visitors to scan and learn about the stories behind them.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Carly will modify her design according to the needs of future exhibitions, which include shows with Karen Kilimnik and Joseph Geagan; the latter’s will incorporate portraits of members of the Vegas scene, Carly among them.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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What most people get wrong is conflating the theme of the exhibition with the dress code for the evening.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
2 May 2026
Noun
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And 2026 is already off to a bright start, with a buzzy debut novel from Jennette McCurdy, plenty of celebrity memoirs and sci-fi spectaculars.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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Nothing this spectacular happens by accident.—
Jordan Robinson,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Still, Malaysian officials framed the display less as an art event than as an act of restitution.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
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The centerpiece of the arena has been on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where a mockup of a soaring 90-foot tall, open-air structure was assembled ahead of the White House event.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Held every spring in Louisville, Kentucky, the extravaganza is also known for the vibrant, over-the-top styles that showcase outfits that are playful and impossible to ignore.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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The production, co-directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, jettisons the animal masquerade for a different kind of drag extravaganza.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spectacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spectacle. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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