variants
also anecdota
as in stories
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally
told us once again that anecdote about the dog and the bike
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Recent Examples of anecdotes
The performance felt both virtuosic and repulsive, a goulash of hype, sloganeering, and calls to violence spiked with in-jokes, shaggy-dog anecdotes, and populist fables, all of it seductive and—in our dangerous era—familiar.
—
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
In the indie film, Hawke transforms himself into the diminutive composer, who regales attendees at Sardi’s bar with anecdotes about his career highs in the theater and bemoans the loss of his former partnership with Richard Rodgers.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Feb. 2026
Trump led into these anecdotes by starting with an accusation that the Somali community of Minnesota was scamming the state.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
The episode kicks off with Luke’s daughter Lulu coming across an old photo of her dad, prompting her to show the picture to Luke’s partner Tracy, launching a pledge to honor the late character with memories and anecdotes.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Weir was always eager to share anecdotes about Garcia and their escapades.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
It is also filled with memorable anecdotes, and while some come from McCartney, many of the best come from band members like drummers Denny Seiwell and Joe English.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Economists say productivity is usually understood better in retrospect, but Greenspan concluded that policymakers should let the economy run hot because anecdotes all pointed to strong productivity aided by the internet.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Many of these anecdotes aren’t based in research.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
In the indie film, Hawke transforms himself into the diminutive composer, who regales attendees at Sardi’s bar with anecdotes about his career highs in the theater and bemoans the loss of his former partnership with Richard Rodgers.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 Feb. 2026
Trump led into these anecdotes by starting with an accusation that the Somali community of Minnesota was scamming the state.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
The episode kicks off with Luke’s daughter Lulu coming across an old photo of her dad, prompting her to show the picture to Luke’s partner Tracy, launching a pledge to honor the late character with memories and anecdotes.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Weir was always eager to share anecdotes about Garcia and their escapades.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
It is also filled with memorable anecdotes, and while some come from McCartney, many of the best come from band members like drummers Denny Seiwell and Joe English.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Economists say productivity is usually understood better in retrospect, but Greenspan concluded that policymakers should let the economy run hot because anecdotes all pointed to strong productivity aided by the internet.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Many of these anecdotes aren’t based in research.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anecdotes
Noun
-
Here are two more stories of the subterranean, one sinister and one salty.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Some clients said they were told to make up stories of abuse that became the crux of their lawsuit.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These things are always cautionary tales, and people don’t realize them.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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There have been a few studies suggesting that Maurten’s version does indeed minimize GI problems and enhance endurance performance—not a huge body of evidence, but enough to buttress the widespread anecdotal tales of elite athletes relying on it.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anecdotes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anecdotes. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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