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
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Recent Examples of fable
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
The twin bases of the American experiment in political pluralism—the fable about the United States as a land of immigrants and the reality of unchallenged global primacy—are simultaneously crumbling.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Lawrence is sparing in his style, the image desaturated like a vintage photograph, locating this fable in an unspecified future and past.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
His storytelling has something of the fable about it.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fable
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
The twin bases of the American experiment in political pluralism—the fable about the United States as a land of immigrants and the reality of unchallenged global primacy—are simultaneously crumbling.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Lawrence is sparing in his style, the image desaturated like a vintage photograph, locating this fable in an unspecified future and past.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
His storytelling has something of the fable about it.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 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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The real loss, at the altar of a warped vision of masculinity, is courage and skill, sacrificed so that a few good men can go on measuring themselves against their own hollow myth of toughness.—
Arman Khan,
Them.,
3 Oct. 2025
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And, in the process, the trio of ’70s babies punctured the myth that rap is a young man’s sport.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
2 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
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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
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Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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And believe us, these legends truly live up to the hype.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Successful or not, the fact that alternatives exist at all suggests virtual particles might be useful fiction rather than physical truth.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
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As fiction and technology intersect, the project opens new terrain for narrative experimentation and audience engagement.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
3 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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