as in parable
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
Dr. Seuss's story "The Sneetches" is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of allegory
Is this the real world or an apocalyptic allegory of some kind?
—
Jenelle Riley, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The team’s hypothesis gets its name from a 2,400-year-old allegory by the Greek philosopher Plato.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 7 Jan. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Sirāt‘s central themes are deeply rooted in both metaphysical allegory and contemporary societal critique.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allegory
Jenelle Riley, Variety, 14 Jan. 2026
The team’s hypothesis gets its name from a 2,400-year-old allegory by the Greek philosopher Plato.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 7 Jan. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Sirāt‘s central themes are deeply rooted in both metaphysical allegory and contemporary societal critique.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for allegory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allegory
Noun
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Faustian parables unlock more interesting connotations when considered not in terms of politics, but of art.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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In the parable of the cave, in the Republic, Plato compares human beings to cave dwellers who never see the sun, but perceive everything by shadowy firelight.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The recently released fourth outing of Netflix’s massively popular Regency romance — adapted from Julia Quinn’s best-selling book series — is a twist on the Grimm brothers’ fable.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
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Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For a cautionary tale, look no further than Kraft Heinz, formed by a mega-merger in 2015.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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The series, the tale of a wealthy family forced to start from scratch in the middle-of-nowhere town of the title, amassed a cult following during the pandemic.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allegory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allegory. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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