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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologue
Noun
  • For Ishiguro, the quest results in a revelation of the darkest possible allegory.
    James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Her 10-episode first season isn’t just an allegory for learning to accept and conquer life’s inescapable anxieties; its horrors are irrefutable for everyone onscreen, which makes for a cathartic, curious, and chilling experience for everyone watching at home.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Jesus, who speaks in parables, not in dicta or dogmas, provides us with a primary instance of the power of the nonliteral tale.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • On Sundays, O’Neal’s father preached hope from the pulpit, stories of his family intertwined with morals and truths and parables.
    Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The barnyard fable is as old as the barnyard, as old as Aesop, older than the Bible.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • That Niall finds Ruben so alluring is natural to Gadd, who believes the notion of a valiant male figure has been bred into everyone via fables and fairy tales.
    Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
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
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.

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“Apologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologue. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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