1
as in story
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature
don't believe the tales you hear about our neighbor's kid
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2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally
asked Dad to tell once again the tale of how, as a kid, he broke his arm jumping out of a tree
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3
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
told tall tales in an attempt to impress me with her supposedly upper-crust background
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in novella
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
the oft-told tale of Sleeping Beauty
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tale
For as long as Hollywood has existed, there's been many a tale of personality clashes, unfortunate events and filmmaking shenanigans.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Shepard’s psychological tale of estranged brothers Lee and Austin and of typewriters, toasters and telephone cords, has lost none of its explosiveness over the years.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
This bizarre tale is made more disorienting because her parents were exceedingly naïve, to the point of complicity.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tale
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Shepard’s psychological tale of estranged brothers Lee and Austin and of typewriters, toasters and telephone cords, has lost none of its explosiveness over the years.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
This bizarre tale is made more disorienting because her parents were exceedingly naïve, to the point of complicity.
—Maya Salam, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tale
Noun
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In the search for the specific medical condition that will serve the dramatic needs, that well of story options is deep.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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This story contains details from the season finale of The Pitt on Max.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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An outside investigation tied a Union County elected official to a controversial social media account accused of spreading lies.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
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Over the course of the game, hosted by the charming Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick), the cash changed hands a few times, lies were told, innocent people were voted out, and tears were shed.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The film was adapted from Annie Proulx’s novella by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
4 Apr. 2025
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The titular novella follows restless loggers who plan a wintertime dance, on the condition that some of them attend as women.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In a very short time, the ad landscape was turned on its head, and in the process magazines wholly reliant on the sale of expensive ads shrank in terms of page count and relevance.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Carpenter could serve up to 10 years in prison with up to three years of supervised release, pay a maximum fine of $250,000 and a fee of $100 for each count, according to the plea agreement.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Some people are forthright when Boulet asks, with a cameraman in tow, a question that is often not spoken, or at most in a locker-room whisper.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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In truth, whispers have been circulating for months that a The Row homewares line might be in the works.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Bereft of chuckles or even a substantial story, this maudlin musical fable never escapes the drag of a lead character with supporting-player energy.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Many of our favorite stories, fables and rhymes came from the volumes of the set of Childcraft Books published in 1954 which accompany our family’s ages-old set of World Book Encyclopedias.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Since then, while tallies have fluctuated, the average has been around 180 clashes per day, an increase of about 30%.—
Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
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That tally includes 13 points salvaged away from home, the most in the division, though there was no need for this at Leicester, who have not scored at the King Power since December 8.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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High school scores and top performers from Wednesday, April 2.—
Steve Gorches,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
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Reporters Nora O’Neill and Richard Stradling are among scores of journalists who have been covering Helene and its aftermath, since last fall when the tropical storm swept through Asheville and many rural communities in western North Carolina.—
Lisa Vernon Sparks,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tale. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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