1
as in story
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened
wrote a witty, chatty narrative of all the happenings at the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
in such narratives as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter," Edgar Allan Poe essentially created the modern detective story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of narrative
Tracy Kidder, an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer who turned everything from computer engineering to life in a nursing home into unexpected bestsellers, has died.
—
R.j. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
This false narrative has created a culture of complacency.
—Tammy Cuyler, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Reichardt, whose contemplative fiction films often blur the boundary between narrative and observation, will receive a retrospective and present a personal selection of documentaries, while Loznitsa will present an extensive retrospective including early short works.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Resolution could take years amid dueling narratives Social media companies have disputed that their products are addictive.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrative
R.j. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
This false narrative has created a culture of complacency.
—Tammy Cuyler, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Reichardt, whose contemplative fiction films often blur the boundary between narrative and observation, will receive a retrospective and present a personal selection of documentaries, while Loznitsa will present an extensive retrospective including early short works.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Resolution could take years amid dueling narratives Social media companies have disputed that their products are addictive.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrative
Noun
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For more than four decades, the Korean immigrant has worked at the shop near Travis Air Force Base, hearing countless stories of loss, sacrifice and heartbreak from military families and service members.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Paxton told stories about running for office for the first time and his 2023 impeachment.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Jude relocates this tale of troubled conscience to present-day Cluj-Napoca, in Transylvania, and subjects it to a corrosively cynical twist.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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My confidence was further bolstered when Zenker informed me about Beau Miles, an adventure filmmaker known for documenting his self-experiments, who, back in 2020, when an entirely different disaster descended upon us, ate only beans for 40 days (191 cans to be exact)—and lived to tell the tale.—
Ayana Underwood,
Outside,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film’s chronology and historicity function much the same way.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
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Presented in somewhat nonlinear chronology, much of the play consists of two-hander scenes between Adam and individual characters, including his new love interest, the confident and flirtatious Alycia (Emma Fulmer).—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two Prosecutors is based on a novella by Georgy Demidov, a physicist who spent 18 years in Soviet prison camps and was rehabilitated in the late 1950s, only to then have his work seized by the authorities; most of his writings were only published following his death in 1987.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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The stories in this collection range from a novella from her post-apocalyptic Sixth World series to a science fiction piece about a conflicted student attending university on a space station.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It has also been viewed by many as an allegorical commentary on first century Christianity and Rome, and has been seen as an impending apocalyptic prophecy by generations ever since.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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They are socialized in a world of makeup tutorials, fashion magazines, and objectifying advertisements—not to mention feminist commentary and pop songs about rejecting or healthily navigating image standards.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The win is the 455th of Bobrovsky’s career, which breaks a tie with Curtis Joseph for the seventh-most in NHL history.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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Grab a sausage roll at O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, or settle upstairs at Farmgate Café, where dishes come with a side of Irish food history—tripe and drisheen, included.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In January, another Polymarket account won big by betting that Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, would soon be out of power.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The award-winning film is a nuanced portrait of leadership and responsibility that also provides a clear and honest account of the challenges and apparent harms that come from seeking to change the world.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny the reports.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Miami Herald staff writer Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrative. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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