1
as in story
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened
wrote a witty, chatty narrative of all the happenings at the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
in such narratives as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter," Edgar Allan Poe essentially created the modern detective story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of narrative
In the Julian series, narrative anchored what his more abstract series could not.
—
Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
The shifting narratives from Washington have sent markets on a wild ride.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Organized in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, the exhibition, which opened on April 3 and continues through June 25, unfolds as a traveling, evolving project that resists a single narrative.
—Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Experience has taught her that there’s no stopping people from inventing narratives.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrative
Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
The shifting narratives from Washington have sent markets on a wild ride.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Organized in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System, the exhibition, which opened on April 3 and continues through June 25, unfolds as a traveling, evolving project that resists a single narrative.
—Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Experience has taught her that there’s no stopping people from inventing narratives.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for narrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrative
Noun
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Galvin later confronted the man who had messaged Kianna, who told her several different stories, according to Childs’ report.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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This story was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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That’s easier to accomplish the further the plot moves away from a diplomatic incident involving several national institutions and toward an occasionally absurd — but absorbing and well-paced — tale of individuals in over their heads.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
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San Diego County can once again be a model of fiscal responsibility — not a cautionary tale.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Written in third person narration, the novel follows a linear chronology of events.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
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The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office redacted the shooter’s precise movements through the school from a report that detailed his path and has consistently declined to make public the chronology of the attack, so Desmond’s exact route during the shooting remains unclear.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The Hellraiser franchise, based on Clive Barker’s 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, includes 11 movies, with the most recent being released in 2022.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
3 May 2026
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The structural problems reveal themselves early, as the revolution that defined Orwell’s novella is dispatched by minute 6.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Does that count as commentary on the current moment?—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
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Along with a video introduction from actor and filmmaker Alex Winter, there will be a Q&A afterward with Patric moderated by critic and scholar Travis Woods, who contributed a commentary track to a recent Australian Blu-ray release of the film.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Johnston pointed to Dukes’ criminal behavior and history.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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But the king is expected to express the highest regard and friendship between the two countries on the 250th anniversary year of independence, creating what the palace called one of the greatest alliances in human history.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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More recently, Trump’s Truth Social account shared a racist video depicting the Obamas as apes.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The account, which can be replenished as needed with property tax dollars and federal emergency money, stands at $116 million.—
Nicolas Villamil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Noun
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The report, which was reviewed by The Times, blamed the issue on lax oversight and confusion among officers about when they were required to turn on their cameras.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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Rachel Barber Oil prices continued to fall Thursday on reports that Iranian officials are reviewing a peace framework that could help end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrative. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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