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
as in news
a report of recent events or facts not previously known
a story in the morning paper about plans for a new library
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in commentary
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened
gave us the whole story of the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
she tells stories just to get attention, so don't believe that stuff about her father being somebody important
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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
There were other stories that bothered him more, like a post by a writer who recounted a chaste one-night stand with Tea Party activist and Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell that described her pubic hair.
—
Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
At a time when the images and stories of migrants and migration in the United States portray a crisis, Cadet’s works present a poignant, intimate counterweight.
—Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Have a suggestion for a future story?
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Feeling your story becoming impersonal?
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for story
Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
At a time when the images and stories of migrants and migration in the United States portray a crisis, Cadet’s works present a poignant, intimate counterweight.
—Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Have a suggestion for a future story?
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Feeling your story becoming impersonal?
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
-
That’s easier to accomplish the further the plot moves away from a diplomatic incident involving several national institutions and toward an occasionally absurd — but absorbing and well-paced — tale of individuals in over their heads.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
San Diego County can once again be a model of fiscal responsibility — not a cautionary tale.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Pau’s videos, operating both as personal diaries and layered social commentaries, reflect a territorial condition mired in uncertainty.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Here, the group marries jazz-kid experimentalism with taut punk, sprawling worldbuilding, and social commentary.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
These poppers start with the crisp, juicy snap of mini sweet peppers, which are filled with a creamy, tangy pimiento cheese spiked with smoky bacon and a whisper of black pepper.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
The early universe, a mere whisper after the Big Bang, just a few hundred million years old — that's when the first stars and galaxies were starting to flicker on, like fairy lights across a cosmic dark.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
There's so much to see, from the Painted Desert in the north to the southern half of the drive, where most of the petrified wood lies.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
-
The average score Sunday, with preferred lies, was 69.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The plot twist is that now, getting published and staying published is actually the hard part.—
Laura Zigman,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
McCarthy has a deft way with crafting suspense in his script, leading with character first, planting conversational bombs that go off at intervals throughout the plot.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Michalle arrived home from work, appraised the situation, and burst out laughing.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
For his part, Heat resident Pat Riley last week indicated a middle ground might be required, citing end-of-clock situations when the Heat’s best scorers need to have the ball in their hands.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The Hellraiser franchise, based on Clive Barker’s 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, includes 11 movies, with the most recent being released in 2022.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
3 May 2026
-
The structural problems reveal themselves early, as the revolution that defined Orwell’s novella is dispatched by minute 6.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This story was updated to add more information.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
But the information you’ve been given suggests that further investigation is needed.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
