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saturnalia

saturnalia

1 9.9
A time of wild, noisy partying with much drinking and dancing
  • noun
  • /ˌsætərˈneɪliə/
  • NSFW
translation icon : saturnalia
  • "That is why Lorrain has often appeared more appealing to biographers than he has to the critics; the saturnalia chronicled in his fictional works is less lurid than those he experienced."

Examples

  • He tore into the Republicans, reminding his audience of the "saturnalia of theft and brutal control" that took place during Republican Reconstruction and of how Republican Party managers robbed the people of their duly elected president in 1876.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Saturnalia was probably even more fun than Christmas.

    Blog text (12)
  • And this became the foundation of many, many celebrations around the world, Saturnalia, Saturnalia among them.

  • Elsewhere, Freud points to "permitted Saturnalia, sanctified Carnival" as another device for getting the majority to accept the repression which civilization demands.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Is it possible to allow reasonable license, permitted Saturnalia, sanctified Carnival, in conditions which need not ruin either the health or the pockets of the roisterers and will shelter from irresistible temptation the unhappy class who, in America, are called addicts?

    Academic text (1990)
  • During the annual festival, the city transformed into a place of saturnalia, with people dancing in the streets and celebrating without restraint.

  • The party turned into a wild saturnalia that lasted all night, featuring loud music, drinks flowing freely, and everyone enjoying themselves to the fullest.

  • As the clocks struck midnight, the office holiday gathering devolved into a saturnalia, with coworkers letting loose and celebrating the end of the year.

Synonyms

orgy
vssaturnalia
  • Offensive
22 8.1

A wild party where people drink a lot and have sex with many others

is a wider period of excess rather than one explicit sexual party
debauchery
vssaturnalia
  • NSFW
18 9.1

Too much drinking and sex for pleasure

is a specific festive period of wild partying rather than general indulgence
revelry
vssaturnalia
9 6.1

Lively noisy party with drinking and dancing

is more excessive and often includes sexual indulgence rather than just dancing
bacchanal
vssaturnalia
  • NSFW
3 9.9

A wild party with a lot of drinking and loud, out-of-control behavior

is broader meaning a period of unrestrained indulgence not just one celebration
bacchanalia
vssaturnalia
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A wild party with a lot of drinking, dancing, and people having sex

is a longer period of unrestrained partying rather than one event
debauch
vssaturnalia
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A wild party with much drinking and sex

is the general unrestrained period rather than a single social event
Dionysia
vssaturnalia
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A religious festival in ancient Greece with plays, parades, and loud celebrations

is a general holiday of unrestrained indulgence not an ancient ritual festival
drunken revelry
vssaturnalia
7.9

A loud party where people drink too much and act wild

is more fully unrestrained and often includes sexual indulgence

Antonyms

122 4.8

The ability to control your feelings and actions

47 3.5

Keeping actions or feelings within reasonable limits

How Wild

saturnalia
  • NSFW
1 9.9
revelry
9 6.1
party
1.0
celebration
430 1.0
gathering
203 1.0

Surface Forms

saturnalia singular
saturnalias plural

Etymology

Saturnalia comes from a Roman festival for the god Saturn, when people relaxed the usual rules, gave gifts, and held big 'feasts'. So today a saturnalia means a time of wild partying and excess, like a noisy, joyful Saturday celebration.