as in tales
a traditional description of imaginary events circulated orally among a people
West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling
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Recent Examples of folktales
From causing supernatural events to creating hysteria, our orbiting nightlight has always had legends and folktales written about it.
—
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 27 Aug. 2025
His work includes Tokyo Cancelled (2005), a collection of contemporary folktales, and a novel, Solo (2009), which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (2010).
—Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Labubu was born in 2015 in Kasing Lung’s sketchbooks, part myth, part toy, growing from Nordic folktales into mischievous plush characters sold via How2Work.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Canada and the United States Indigenous tribes across what is now Canada and the northern United States (including Alaska) have myriad folktales surrounding the celestial dance.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2024
Nair’s early exposure to traditional folktales and the lush landscapes of his homeland would later inform his distinct narrative style.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
The holiday romp is notable for its many mythical villains, which draw inspiration from real folktales.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2024
Much of it reflected traditional folktales and mythology of the real world; there’s even a detailed creation myth, featuring a clash between gods.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Pulling from folktales, mythology, art, and literature, Tokarczuk’s novel spins a story that feels eerily familiar and yet totally new.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 27 Aug. 2025
His work includes Tokyo Cancelled (2005), a collection of contemporary folktales, and a novel, Solo (2009), which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (2010).
—Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Labubu was born in 2015 in Kasing Lung’s sketchbooks, part myth, part toy, growing from Nordic folktales into mischievous plush characters sold via How2Work.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Canada and the United States Indigenous tribes across what is now Canada and the northern United States (including Alaska) have myriad folktales surrounding the celestial dance.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2024
Nair’s early exposure to traditional folktales and the lush landscapes of his homeland would later inform his distinct narrative style.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
The holiday romp is notable for its many mythical villains, which draw inspiration from real folktales.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2024
Much of it reflected traditional folktales and mythology of the real world; there’s even a detailed creation myth, featuring a clash between gods.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Pulling from folktales, mythology, art, and literature, Tokarczuk’s novel spins a story that feels eerily familiar and yet totally new.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktales
Noun
-
Their empires cracked, their shadows receded, and their names faded into cautionary tales.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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The mysterious spirit animal messengers that Ji-noo sends, a tiger and a magpie who represent the nobles and commoners of many Korean folk tales, needed to be otherworldly without being fully demonic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Three obvious choices to assist with the design are Eddie Sotto, Tom Morris and Jim Shull who are all Imagineering legends with decades of experience.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Sports legends, including Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor, and Randy Moss, attended the game, cheering exuberantly after UNC took a 7-0 lead with an opening drive touchdown.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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While some among Democrats cast him as the party’s national leader and a natural choice for their 2028 nominee, conservative critics point to his past controversies, including other pay-for-play stories.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While most technology leaders have done their fair share to dispel these myths in favor of AI’s transformative potential, concerns of misinformation, security vulnerabilities and unpredictability still hum beneath the unstoppable swell of AI innovation.—
Monish Darda,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Without clear evidence, myths persist — and athletes hesitate.—
Starre Vartan,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These narratives, according to the researchers, suggest that a mindset of commitment helps couples get through during periods of adversity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Although Romano rightly considered her depictions of dreams to be realistic, the book itself, with its uncanny, fragmented narratives, could not have been more distinct from the neorealist literature that was in vogue at the time.—
Brian Robert Moore
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There’s an audience for this film, for those who like their romances unsentimental and spare, politically conscious without overheaping the messaging.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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These are all sideways romances for an uncertain time.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folktales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktales. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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