myth

Definition of mythnext
1
as in legend
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature according to an ancient Greek myth, humans acquired fire from Prometheus, a Titan who had stolen it from heaven

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2
as in mythology
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place over the years Davy Crockett evolved from an actual person to one of the great figures of American myth

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

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 myth By the time Turner gave his paper in Chicago in 1893, the myth of the frontier already had an irresistible pull in American culture, a simple rhetorical trajectory that made white men and women feel proud of themselves and their past. Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 Rethinking the Chávez myth True reappraisals of Chávez and his work wouldn’t start until after former Times editor and reporter Miriam Pawel published a 2006 series for this paper that showed the ugly, domineering side of Chávez and the UFW’s decline. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026 The quest to reach the Moon has always been a key part of the American myth. NPR, 1 Apr. 2026 That was conventional wisdom until 2010, when California anglers shattered that myth with their swimbaits at an FLW Tour event at Lake Ouachita. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for myth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for myth
Noun
  • What are some legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya in Hinduism?
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • But Koehnemann also learned from his grandfather Ryne Sandberg, a Chicago Cubs legend and 2005 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who died in Lake Bluff on July 28, 2025.
    Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And the behind-the-scenes stories that explain how audiences found their way to each movie proved just as important to building the projects’ mythology as the films themselves.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The Artemis program is named after Apollo’s twin sister in Greek mythology, Saridakis explained, a nod to NASA’s long-standing goal of sending the first woman to the moon.
    Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • More than a month into open confrontation between Iran, the United States, Israel, and now parts of the Arab Gulf, the illusion of a quick and decisive conflict has collapsed.
    Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The next mayor will inherit an enormous burden on Day 1 with no room for illusions.
    Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Described as a political fable that combines elements of a crime thriller with epic tragedy, the plot of Minotaur sees a Russian corporate executives preparing to carry out mass layoffs, who discovers his wife is having an affair.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Bellingcat gets its name from an Aesop’s fable, in which a group of mice decide the best way to save themselves from their nemesis the cat is to put a bell around its neck that would alert them to its presence.
    Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The new Tangled family ride, too, draws from European folklore — the Brothers Grimm’s Rapunzel.
    Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
  • On their last night together before Raissa leaves, the two stumble upon a strange portal that transports them to the island of Nakali, which is filled with mythological creatures pulled from Filipino folklore and mythology.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The other path is pressing on in your delusions, hoping you will eventually be vindicated.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Several reports find psychosis among those who are addicted and could result in hallucinations, delusions and confusion.
    Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Passover always starts and finishes in the evening, but traditions can vary depending on geographical location.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Like the restaurant, Toja draws on local traditions with a spa menu that includes invigorating pijat massages and exfoliating scrubs with rice, ginger, and candle nut.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Kody Clemens scored on an error by five-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Salvador Perez in the second, and Byron Buxton added a sacrifice fly off John Schreiber in the eighth, before the Twins teed off against Royals reliever Steven Cruz in the ninth.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Angels center fielder Mike Trout dropped a Kelly fly ball for a two-base error.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Myth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/myth. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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