myth

noun

ˈmith How to pronounce myth (audio)
Definition of mythnext
1
as in legend
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature according to an ancient Greek myth, humans acquired fire from Prometheus, a Titan who had stolen it from heaven

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2
as in mythology
the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place over the years Davy Crockett evolved from an actual person to one of the great figures of American myth

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in illusion
a false idea or belief the idea that alligators can live in the sewers of New York is just a myth

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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 myth Sourdough bread’s popularity is fueling a probiotic myth Sourdough bread has gone from bakery staple to household obsession. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 As Carson and Rapp’s search for Henry deepens, Yaga cuts a jagged (though, at this point, well-trod by shows like Hulu’s Furious or even Netflix’s East of Eden) path through themes of wealth, male entitlement, female rage and the purpose of myth. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 Assemblymember Natasha Johnson, R-Lake Elsinore, who is the vice chair of the chamber’s elections committee, said in a statement that Democratic colleagues had called voter fraud a myth. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Subverting that myth, the Met show ambitiously resets the history of Abstract Expressionism, going a long way to reveal the complexity of their artistic relationship. — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for myth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for myth
  1. legend
  2. mythology
  3. illusion
  4. fable
  5. folklore
  6. delusion
  7. tradition
  8. error
Noun
  • The exact story of how coffee was discovered isn’t known for sure, but one popular legend says an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi noticed that when his goats ate from a red berry plant, they were infused with energy and stayed awake all night.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Honoring the legend with your meat is the only way to truly pay your respects.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of legend
Noun
  • Rather than relying on supernatural creatures or elaborate mythology, Fears to Fathom builds suspense around seemingly ordinary situations that take increasingly terrifying turns.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This one’s for the chocolate lovers who appreciate a little mythology lesson, too.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • Some opening day effects are long gone, such as the illusion created by actual shifting doors at the start of the attraction, or visions of tumbling rubble near its beginning.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Growing up in Wyoming’s rugged realities left no illusion that humans are solely in control.
    — Amelia Rose Barlow, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of illusion
Noun
  • The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister An eerie fable that seems to take place across and outside of time, The Bog Wife is already a classic of the modern bog-core genre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There is this Indian fable of a king whose heart resided in a parrot.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fable
Noun
  • With eight episodes featuring Williams alongside Carrie-Anne Moss, Clark Backo, Noah Reid, and more, fans are in for secrets, seduction, folklore, and the supernatural.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Gallardo highlighted Argentine artist Milo J, who at 19 has connected younger listeners with the country’s traditional folklore.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of folklore
Noun
  • In a number of wrongful death lawsuits, ChatGPT is blamed for driving users to experience harmful delusions and, in some cases, to commit suicide.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But a line like that also fleshes out the head-in-the-stratosphere delusions of everyone here.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of delusion
Noun
  • What was intended to be a day of camaraderie, tradition and celebration has been marked by profound sadness.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Selig in essence dumped his team’s AL tradition for a few more home games with the Cubs and their money-spending fans from the North Shore.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of tradition
Noun
  • Someone who visits the malicious website directly may see a 404 error page instead of the fake installer.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The experts, who had all studied AI in academic settings, all brought up the ironies of the automation problem, where AI makes errors that humans can’t catch.
    — Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of error

Browse Nearby Words

mystiques
myth
mythical
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Cite this Entry

“Myth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/myth. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on myth

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about myth

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