carnival 1 of 2

noun

ˈkär-nə-vəl How to pronounce carnival (audio)
Definition of carnivalnext
as in festival
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something the town's annual Fourth of July carnival

Synonyms & Similar Words

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carnival

2 of 2

adjective

as in carnivalesque

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Dissimilar 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 carnival
Noun
This year, VanDeCreek wasn’t there just to enjoy the food, carnival and parade, but also to collect signatures for a petition to ban data centers. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 By 1869, New York had taken to decorating ships in the harbor with Italian and American flags, in addition to hosting a carnival and parade. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The Children’s Zoo encouraged youngsters to feed and pet the animals, but eliminated carnival-style gimmicks that were common in zoos at the time. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2022 The Queen is also expected to attend the Derby, one of her favorite horse race events, a concert at Buckingham Palace and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a carnival-style celebration during which many artists, including Ed Sheeran, will perform. — Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 See All Example Sentences for carnival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnival
  1. festival
  2. carnivalesque
  3. celebration
  4. riotous
  5. festivity
  6. raucous
  7. boisterous
  8. raffish
Noun
  • For 70 years, the festival has brought really the best of the year in cinema to audiences.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Couples who match through the program are offered vouchers for subsequent dates, access to follow-up activities tied to festivals around Seoul, as well as an online and offline community where participants can stay connected.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of festival
Adjective
  • There was something carnivalesque about Marcia’s intellectual riffs.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Overall, there is a driving energy to the album as well as a haunted carnivalesque atmosphere.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of carnivalesque
Noun
  • The festival arrives as Kansas City’s culinary landscape continues expanding, with Asian restaurants, cultural celebrations and food entrepreneurs gaining greater visibility throughout the region.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But when Gordon scored his touchdown against the Vikings, Wright was in the middle of the group celebration.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of celebration
Adjective
  • The riotous 640-page doorstopper grapples with homophobia then and now, the lingering specter of colonialism, the tumult of the AIDS crisis, and frameworks of power that demand dominance or submission.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Adéla draws from the Britney Spears playbook on the track and ends up with a riotous song destined for Top 40 dominance.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of riotous
Noun
  • Thanks to off-season discounts, fall is a notoriously excellent time to prep your patio or backyard for next year’s outdoor festivities.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Kim and his cast joined the festivities, with the film starring host Kim Min-ha alongside Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Chang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-jun, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of festivity
Adjective
  • Following the film screening, which earned a raucous applause from attendees (and a standing ovation for its lead actor), Scott encouraged the audience to dance their way out to a song by the late Ethel Merman.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The raucous sell-out crowds transform Chase Center into Ballhalla, which is littered with a sea of violet and creates a strong homecourt advantage for the club.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • Unlike regular golf tournaments, the first tee is boisterous with a flag-waving crowd and music.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The result is a boisterous, exhausting drama that struggles to balance trauma, satire and the painful legacy of Black sitcom fame.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of boisterous
Adjective
  • So did the holdout Grealish tragics; those of us who still cling to the memories of his raffish breakout years.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • And then there's a top-of-his-game Chevy Chase as a devil-may-care golfer and Bill Murray as a raffish groundskeeper.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026
Definition of raffish

Browse Nearby Words

carnality
carnival
carnivalesque
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Cite this Entry

“Carnival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnival. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on carnival

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carnival

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