apologues

plural of apologue
as in allegories
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 apologues
Noun
  • Mungiu may have a less sadistic streak and a more active camera, but the two filmmakers share a particular commitment to narrative indeterminacy, devising intricate yet incomplete crime-story plots that function broadly as sociopolitical allegories.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • There are allegories that can be read about fear of the unknown breeding cruelty and exploitation, but Disclosure Day is first and foremost a propulsive yarn with thematic roots in hope, truth, empathy and perhaps even spirituality.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s a reason why political stories are often chosen as parables for moral compromise.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As nightmare thought experiments shape the fight over how to govern a multitrillion-dollar industry, some experts say the parables may lead decision-makers astray.
    — Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • From Roma to All Quiet on the Western Front, Netflix has a long history of successfully campaigning for non-English language historical fables—but can this be the studio’s first movie to scoop the top prize?
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Few eras of Greek history compare to the ancient times that the country has become so synonymous with—the cinematic fables of Odysseus, comic-book lore of Leonidas, and philosophic creeds of Socrates are ever-present in pop culture.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In your garden-variety ghost story, the protagonist is generally the haunted, not the haunt, and the tales themselves are generally about how unhappy the protagonist is to find he or she is haunted.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Soon, tales of loss, memory and hopeful closure become central to the buildup, along with worried feelings of climbers’ loved ones.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 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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“Apologues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologues. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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