1
as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
as in whisper
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature stories going around that the old man had died with thousands of dollars hidden under his mattress

Synonyms & Similar Words

6
7
as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely

Synonyms & Similar Words

8
as in situation
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 story Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Philip Elliott, Time, 23 June 2025 Heading into mandatory minicamp, the biggest story for the Commanders was a player who was not on the field. Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 Drinks with a story The illustrated cocktail menu is a journey in itself, presented like a mini storybook through greater New York City. Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 23 June 2025 However, Walters' incredible career is only part of her story. Sean Keane, ABC News, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • Where Bailey lands is probably going to tell the tale of his career.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 26 June 2025
  • The page lists half a dozen directorial projects Ford is attached to, including ferry disaster tragedy Wahine out of New Zealand, fantasy tale The King of Light – The Order of the Dark Gods, and comedy Food Fight.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Authorities were still working to piece together a motive and build a chronology of events leading up to the attack.
    Eric Tucker, Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2025
  • Career coaches advise applicants to tailor their résumés to highlight skills over chronology, emphasize volunteer or caregiving experience, and demonstrate a growth mindset.
    Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • Every new headline—whether a cease-fire whisper or another drone strike—moves Brent and insurance quotes long before drilling rigs or pipelines can respond.
    Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Jane spoke barely above a whisper to an attentive jury throughout her afternoon testimony.
    Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • Of course, as with everything involved in this sextortion scam, that’s a lie.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Newsom is seeking $787 million — the same amount that Fox News paid to settle a defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems, a company that claimed the network repeatedly aired false allegations about its voting machines to boost Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was rigged.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The number of politically motivated attacks and plots against government agents in just the past five years is three times higher than those in the previous 25 years combined, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The family at the heart of the story run a tourism business allowing Cappadocia to feature in a way that naturally chimes with the narrative, but the connection between landscape and plot runs far deeper, series director Murat Saraçoğlu says.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • His situation has parallels with Carl Rushworth, who has run out of patience at the Amex Stadium.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • Furthermore, in other situations, planting one that’s too large might be of concern as well, especially if the surrounding area is better suited for bedding cover, staging areas, water sources, etc.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The novella takes place over Christmas night, contained to the equivalent of a one-act play in the character Marie’s bleak apartment.
    Diana Arterian June 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
  • It’s built backward, as is the Stephen King novella on which it’s based.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Simple adjustments such as cropping and rotating worked, but more complex adjustments and filters would strip out the HDR information, resulting in a significant loss of quality.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Currently, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it has yet to be determined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on story

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!