fable

noun

ˈfā-bəl How to pronounce fable (audio)
Definition of fablenext
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fable Remember the fable of Tristan Peters, who was once a Giants prospect and is now somebody the Pope thinks about regularly. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Shortly after his election loss, Cornyn posted on social media a fable about a frog and a scorpion. — Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 The novel has a freewheeling spirit that recalls Italo Calvino’s space fables in Cosmicomics. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 The collection spans centuries of storytelling in multiple genres, from migratory fairytales with kings and princesses to legends of ghosts and the Devil to fables with talking animals. — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
  1. allegory
  2. myth
  3. tale
  4. lie
  5. parable
  6. legend
  7. fiction
  8. story
Noun
  • It can be read as a direct allegory for conversion therapy and for other ways that homophobia can alter behavior and cause lasting psychological and emotional damage.
    — Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
  • Hawthorne’s tale is not just an allegory of the Revolution.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of allegory
Noun
  • What this framework dismantles is a common and counterproductive myth—that friendships either spark instantly or are not worth pursuing.
    — Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The movie, which starred an orca named Keiko, also dispelled myths about the killer whale and inspired activism around their captivity.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 9 July 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • There’s a house on the property where Francis Ford Coppola filmed Vito Corleone avenging his mother’s death in The Godfather Part II, but Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were interested in a much older tale about Sicily—one of gods and mortals.
    — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 14 July 2026
  • This underdog tale — a popular trope in musical theater — offers many moving moments, though several feel cloying.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • Spieth decided the ball sitting on a steep slope and potentially on a terrible lie wasn’t playable.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The seat-block option comes four months after United unveiled a new Relax Row option, a row of three economy seats with individually adjustable leg rests that fold up at a 90-degree angle to create a lie-flat sleeping area.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of lie
Noun
  • Shifting baseline syndrome was initially considered an evocative parable of humans’ estrangement from wild nature—a warning in the form of a hypothesis.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • Jesus taught his followers by his remarkable example, including innumerable healings, as well as through his sermons and parables.
    — Eric Bashor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026
Definition of parable
Noun
  • First, the inability to use legends outside Ultimate Team continues to be one of EA's cardinal sins.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • But family legend has it that the one brother who settled on the island married a Native American and began a long line of Gendrons.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of legend
Noun
  • And her brand of absurdist humor, full of candid confessions, fart jokes, and Harry Styles fan-fiction, definitely goes there.
    — Shannon Carlin, Time, 14 July 2026
  • Spanish-language fiction ranks among Wattpad’s most popular categories, providing Webtoon Productions with a growing source of stories whose readership data and fan engagement can help inform development and adaptation decisions.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 14 July 2026
Definition of fiction
Noun
  • Cholowsky visited Chicago for a few days in early June, talking to coaches and executives, hanging out with players and listening to Jerry Reinsdorf’s baseball stories.
    — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Hawthorne recounted a story about the day he was drafted, when new Steelers teammate Joe Greene came to his family’s door.
    — Jim Barnes July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
Definition of story

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Cite this Entry

“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fable

Nglish: Translation of fable for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fable

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