Definition of storynext
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 story Democrats have long denied involvement in the non-incumbent Sullivan's candidacy, and both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC reiterated those denials after the Times story published. — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026 An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that DoorDash's profit and revenue for the latest quarter missed analysts' expectations. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of indigenous cultures and people. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Sharpless says, in the West, sleep paralysis overlapped with stories about vampires, witches, and ghosts. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The tale is energized by the thoughtful performances of Hanns Zischler, as Mann, and Sandra Hüller, as the author’s daughter Erika, who accompanies him while reviving conflicts from her own past.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • On the other, Anthropic has argued that its AI model, Claude, has shown signs of introspection, internal states that mirror joy or satisfaction, and processing information similar to the human mind.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • State officials had provided a version of the rolls that withheld such sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who is Jewish, publicly blasted Vang’s fundraiser with Piker, citing his history of commentary that critics including the Anti-Defamation League have called antisemitic and misogynistic.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Considering Intel's guidance on the worsening PC slowdown, commentary on current-quarter demand will carry more weight than the September-quarter results.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • There are whispers of a speakeasy opening downstairs in the coming months, which gives the restaurant extra potential to become a go-to dinner spot that seamlessly transitions into a night out.
    — Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There’s an initial burst of salt and crunch, then a rolling thunder of jerk spice, spiked with the vibrant, herbal freshness of Caribbean green seasoning and a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Some of what Chris says is a lie; some is addled and confused.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The campaigns of Sullivan and Peltola have each accused the other of spreading lies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • No, the trailer teases a movie with a lot more plot than OUTH had.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Witnesses and text messages introduced during trial placed Désir at meetings where the plot evolved from a plan to capture Moïse to killing him.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • If the Sens’ backup goaltending situation solves itself, then Staios’ shopping list could be fairly simple between now and the deadline, with landing a goal-scoring forward.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Instead of depending on separate ammunition types for different targets, crews can configure the projectile to suit the situation.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Gould chalked this not-so-novel novella’s timing up to nostalgia.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The show is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film and Daphne du Maurier’s novella of the same name.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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