1
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others
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2
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature
according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children
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3
as in tale
something that is the product of the imagination
the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fable
Nonetheless, Lloyd's production is handsomely realized, with striking silhouetttes courtesy of Jon Clark and unnerving sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, who add a low whirr of dread to the existential fable.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
The Master is the greatest of them all, a movie peopled by characters who are at once intensely human and also the stuff of otherworldly fables.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
After outlining that corrupt deal, Du Bois dissects how scholarship sympathetic to the northern interests then rewrote Reconstruction’s history, turning the period into a fable of failure while caricaturing Black political leadership and widespread democratic participation.
—Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
The Faustian football fable, directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s banner Monkeypaw Productions, is now projecting a $15 million opening weekend.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fable
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
The Master is the greatest of them all, a movie peopled by characters who are at once intensely human and also the stuff of otherworldly fables.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
After outlining that corrupt deal, Du Bois dissects how scholarship sympathetic to the northern interests then rewrote Reconstruction’s history, turning the period into a fable of failure while caricaturing Black political leadership and widespread democratic participation.
—Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
The Faustian football fable, directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s banner Monkeypaw Productions, is now projecting a $15 million opening weekend.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
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Schoenbrun surrounded that message in a mesmerizing and haunting allegory, announcing themself as one of our most gifted contemporary filmmakers in the process.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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Through dialogue, Reason, Rectitude, and Justice help Christine construct the physical form of the sanctuary city while arguing through allegory against the misogyny entrenched in French society and literature.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But the idea that the game’s superpowers are being challenged by outsiders is something of a myth.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Margarine and fake butter spreads Once marketed as a heart-healthy butter alternative, margarine turned out to be one of the biggest nutrition myths of the last century.—
Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Instead, spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will forever tell tales of his audacious 60 off just 65 balls.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Wyler’s Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – a timely tale of the weight of coming home from World War II – was named as subversive by HUAC.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Although the city demolished the long-vacant behemoth from its modest skyline about nine months ago, its remains lie entombed where the building once stood, and temporarily block the beginning of a new chapter of Marysville history.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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When compared to other Mercury transits, this is the one that exposes lies, fuels investigative journalism and makes gossip feel more like a confession.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These parables sometimes read like gibberish, talking both down and up to the reader.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
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Then there’s this weird other, like Mae got really into parables.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hollywood legend Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79 in California.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
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While other Halloween towns like Salem, Massachusetts, and Sleepy Hollow, New York, lean on centuries of legends, Conway’s young legacy is powered almost entirely by community spirit.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Throughout their time in Greensbury, the family must navigate a variety of events — from new teaching jobs and memorable neighbors to a curious town legend, which may be more fact than fiction, per the book's official synopsis.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately, the rest of the roster is too big and unskilled, a downstream consequence of buying into the fiction that Davis is a power forward.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This story will be updated as more information becomes available.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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