1
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others
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2
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature
according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children
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3
as in tale
something that is the product of the imagination
the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fable
Using the cattle drive, a device that is to Western legend as prohibition is to that other staple of pop American theology, the gangster fable, TV’s Lonesome Dove creates a moving (in both senses of the word) depiction of the never-never-land/once-upon-a-time West of reconstructed recollection.
—
Miles Beller, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Slow and steady wins the race, or so goes the fable.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Feb. 2026
Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Animated family films have been a staple of entertainment culture for nearly a century and offer a rich catalog of adventures, fables, fairy tales and dramas.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fable
Miles Beller, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Slow and steady wins the race, or so goes the fable.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Feb. 2026
Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Animated family films have been a staple of entertainment culture for nearly a century and offer a rich catalog of adventures, fables, fairy tales and dramas.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
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Long known for its olives and seaside charm, the southern Greek city of Kalamata has found itself in the spotlight thanks to a towering mural that reimagines legendary soprano Maria Callas as an allegory for the city itself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
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An allegory for how De Sosa’s generation is leaving the world, the director says.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Like any good cocktail, the margarita comes with a twist of myth.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
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Yaga is based on the play by Kat Sandler, who serves as the show’s writer and showrunner, and is a contemporary reimagining of the myth of Baba Yaga set in a coastal town.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mikaela Shiffrin’s story of redemption is one of the greatest tales of Olympic glory at this year’s Winter Games in Italy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2026
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Rarely do these pieces directly echo the two men’s interpersonal drama, but the information adds context to the actors’ enchanting movements, which are backed by gorgeous outfits and striking set design that accentuate the mythical tales being played out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Chickering adds that under its new owners, TikTok has more control over what shows up on American feeds, but this control, according to Chickering, is where TikTok’s opportunity - and risk - lies.—
Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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Malliotakis has a history of spreading misleading information and incendiary lies tying immigrants to crimes, despite data showing immigrants commit crimes at far lower rates than others.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Plato’s prescient understanding of ICE agents arose during a discussion of the parable of the Ring of Gyges.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
Washington Post,
9 Feb. 2026
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Faustian parables unlock more interesting connotations when considered not in terms of politics, but of art.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Other famous folks who lived there included Oscar-winning Hattie McDaniel (whose home still stands), music legend Ray Charles and prominent criminal defense attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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And, if this is to be the legend’s final Olympic Games, then nothing short of the gold medal would have been fitting.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Other viewers may be left wondering why all of this merits a full-length movie, or at least one that unconvincingly tries to turn fact into fiction.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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For fiction that fails to challenge preexisting views and assumptions is nothing more than idle chatter—small talk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Elsewhere, stories of economic gloom – from galloping inflation to restaurant closures and the knock-on impact of severe tax increases – describe the many ways in which the prolonged war in Ukraine is now hitting Russians hard in the pocket at home.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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