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
Students learn about everything from food and traditions to dance and folktales from around Latin America.
—
Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Her mother, an enslaved woman whose name is lost to history, had been a storyteller, too, regaling the girl with folktales on the Maryland plantation where she was born in the mid-nineteenth century.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Her mother, an enslaved woman whose name is lost to history, had been a storyteller, too, regaling the girl with folktales on the Maryland plantation where she was born in the mid-nineteenth century.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktales
Noun
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Author Alma Katsu and writer-librarian Becky Spratford sat down for a conversation to discuss exactly why readers are more interested in horror — including everything from ghost stories to tales of serial killers — than ever before.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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Some put feathers in their hair and spun unbelievable tales while casually slinging a sport coat over their shoulder (Coach from Tocantins).—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For the new hires taking over the many faces of Matt Mercer in the adaptation, the array of talent on display is mind-boggling, encompassing Broadway stars, country music legends, and not one, but three Disney princesses.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Intel was cofounded in 1968 by two legends of the silicon industry, Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, and an investor named Arthur Rock.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Don't miss out on our latest stories.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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October football is almost here, with the first week of byes, another Sunday morning game from the British Isles, both conferences having a single undefeated leader, four teams winless and a lot of lingering questions about myths versus realities as we near the middle third of the season.—
Hannah Vanbiber,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Combining rigorous research and captivating narration, Kateryna Zarembo debunks common myths about the region, such as its long-standing gravitation towards Russia and its rejection of everything Ukrainian.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By encouraging tourists to visit Puerto Rico’s lauded heritage sites, Bad Bunny is uplifting narratives about the community and their power that recontextualize the island as a place for visitors from across the globe to celebrate.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
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Along the way, narratives of both Bridges and the Little Rock students were largely melted down and resculpted into Civil Rights triumph.—
Andrea Williams,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So because romantic magic and parental puns are my Special-Tea; here are a few of my favorite witchy romances with punny titles.—
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Throughout her prolific career, Cardinale starred in more than 150 films, featuring across genres from comedies and crime dramas to sweeping romances and period films.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folktales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktales. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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