as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
did you really see a bear, or are you telling us another one of your fairy tales?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of fairy tale
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
The last pick of the 2022 draft, Purdy’s career had unfolded like a fairy tale — an unlikely trip to the NFC Championship in Year 1, a Super Bowl appearance in Year 2.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
There were other such moments for Miami (Ohio), not only in basketball, but in football, and that’s a fairy tale for another day.
—Terence Moore, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Paris Hilton looked straight out of a fairy tale while making a rare red carpet appearance with her kids on Tuesday night.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairy tale
David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026
The last pick of the 2022 draft, Purdy’s career had unfolded like a fairy tale — an unlikely trip to the NFC Championship in Year 1, a Super Bowl appearance in Year 2.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
There were other such moments for Miami (Ohio), not only in basketball, but in football, and that’s a fairy tale for another day.
—Terence Moore, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Paris Hilton looked straight out of a fairy tale while making a rare red carpet appearance with her kids on Tuesday night.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairy tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fairy tale
Noun
-
The content of the speech was a litany of lies, fantasy and exaggerated claims.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But that confidence in ourselves and our capacity was always a lie.—
Adam Frank,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Evelyn, like so many of her neighbors, owns a chapter in this tale.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Feel-good tale about a young female governor?—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the past year, their silence broken by the abolition of the police force, residents have started trading stories.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This week was an exception, as Ronaldo became a story for not playing a game.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fairy tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fairy%20tale. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
