as in parable
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
Dr. Seuss's story "The Sneetches" is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of allegory
Coogler’s Jim Crow-era film — the rare horror movie to win the academy’s favor — conjures a mythical allegory of Black life.
—
Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Via a sly, clever and potent allegory, the English singer-songwriter, who is trans, depicts the world of a vibrant but vilified cryptid community that finally rises up in the face of prejudice — not to attack, but simply to exist.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Sirāt‘s central themes are deeply rooted in both metaphysical allegory and contemporary societal critique.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allegory
Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Via a sly, clever and potent allegory, the English singer-songwriter, who is trans, depicts the world of a vibrant but vilified cryptid community that finally rises up in the face of prejudice — not to attack, but simply to exist.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Sirāt‘s central themes are deeply rooted in both metaphysical allegory and contemporary societal critique.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allegory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allegory
Noun
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Plato’s prescient understanding of ICE agents arose during a discussion of the parable of the Ring of Gyges.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
Washington Post,
9 Feb. 2026
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Faustian parables unlock more interesting connotations when considered not in terms of politics, but of art.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The brand collaborated with Shanghai Animation Film Studio, a cultural institution deeply embedded in collective memory, to reinterpret The Little Horse Crosses the River, a fable familiar to generations of Chinese audiences.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
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When talking about their ending, Oppenheimer references the fable of the Scorpion and the Frog — Stephen, the scorpion, was always going to sting her.—
Samantha Highfill,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mikaela Shiffrin’s story of redemption is one of the greatest tales of Olympic glory at this year’s Winter Games in Italy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2026
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Rarely do these pieces directly echo the two men’s interpersonal drama, but the information adds context to the actors’ enchanting movements, which are backed by gorgeous outfits and striking set design that accentuate the mythical tales being played out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allegory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allegory. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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