apologue

noun

ˈa-pə-ˌlȯg How to pronounce apologue (audio)
Definition of apologuenext
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life the film is an apologue of sorts, but the message is couched in a zany and action-filled plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologue
  1. allegory
  2. parable
  3. fable
  4. tale
Noun
  • But those earlier tales often used monstrousness as an allegory for male violence.
    — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The question reminded me of the biblical allegory of Adam and Eve and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of allegory
Noun
  • In the background of a gut-wrenching new album from Teller Bank$, there’s a preacher who sees himself in the biblical parable of Noah’s ark.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a reason why political stories are often chosen as parables for moral compromise.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of parable
Noun
  • The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister An eerie fable that seems to take place across and outside of time, The Bog Wife is already a classic of the modern bog-core genre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There is this Indian fable of a king whose heart resided in a parrot.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fable
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
Definition of tale
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.

Browse Nearby Words

apologizing
apologue
apologues
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Cite this Entry

“Apologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologue. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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