carnival

[kahr-nuh-vuhl] / ˈkɑr nə vəl /

NOUN

outdoor celebration

Synonyms

STRONG

bacchanal carousal circus conviviality exposition fair feasting festival fete fiesta frolic gala heyday jamboree jollification jubilee masquerade merrymaking orgy ragbag revelry rout saturnalia spree

WEAK

Mardi Gras amusement park carny grind show side show street fair

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inside the exhibit hall, there was a carnival game where contestants could see who could shoot the most water at a target.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

It turns the world into a carnival of danger and desperation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Tiago Martins, a carnival parade designer at the school, called it a deeply personal story.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Director and co-writer Clint Bentley filmed the ending of Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella, in which Joel Edgerton’s solitary Robert visits a carnival, encountering a strange wolf-boy.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

He was whirling around like a carnival ride.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli

Vocabulary lists containing carnival

February Vocabulary Words

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Mardi Gras: Fun

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Body Language: Carn ("Flesh")

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