1
: a minor show offered in addition to a main exhibition (as of a circus)
2
: an incidental diversion or spectacle
Examples of sideshow in a Sentence
Their disagreement is just a political sideshow when compared to the real issues at hand.
Recent Examples on the Web
In what may have been the largest mass shooting in Oakland’s history, 15 people were wounded by gunfire Wednesday night at a sideshow near Lake Merritt.
—
Jason Green, The Mercury News, 19 June 2024
Sports play a role in shaping the American college experience — including who gets in and who doesn’t, even at our most selective schools — that is unimaginable outside the US, where university sports are a sideshow at best.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 29 May 2024
Like the mummified Elmer, this whole kit and kaboodle could be packed up and sent on the road, a sideshow in a crate just looking for the next paying crowd.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
The Senate should consider simply not letting the show go on by dismissing the charges immediately after the trial convenes, a move that is on strong legal footing and which would stop dead the GOP’s efforts to continue this as an electoral sideshow going into this year’s presidential election.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sideshow 
Jason Green, The Mercury News, 19 June 2024
Sports play a role in shaping the American college experience — including who gets in and who doesn’t, even at our most selective schools — that is unimaginable outside the US, where university sports are a sideshow at best.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 29 May 2024
Like the mummified Elmer, this whole kit and kaboodle could be packed up and sent on the road, a sideshow in a crate just looking for the next paying crowd.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
The Senate should consider simply not letting the show go on by dismissing the charges immediately after the trial convenes, a move that is on strong legal footing and which would stop dead the GOP’s efforts to continue this as an electoral sideshow going into this year’s presidential election.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sideshow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sideshow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sideshow
Cite this Entry
“Sideshow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideshow. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sideshow
noun
side·show
-ˌshō 
: a small show off to the side offered in addition to a main show (as of a circus)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share