Definitions

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.

Similarly, if you’d like to focus the day on playing games and experiencing human-powered carnival rides, I’d recommend doing that first.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

This year's carnival featured musical performances, bedazzled horses, huge dragons and dancing stilt walkers.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

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

Old and scratched, it looked more like something a child would win from a carnival than a piece of jewelry suitable for a woman her age.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

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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