narrative

Definition of narrativenext
1
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

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 narrative That narrative may fit some campuses. Ryan Gable, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026 The new multi-year pact gives Amazon MGM Studios first look on narrative features, scripted and unscripted series from Balboa. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026 To him, Trudon is a living narrative, heritage in motion. Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026 Last summer, incorrect narratives about the bill spread quickly on social media. Julia Simon, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for narrative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrative
Noun
  • This two-story house provides a generous living space with its five bedrooms and four baths.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Durden’s journey with the Patriots starts, like most great stories, at the very bottom.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The podcast is a fascinating artifact, the tale of a woman still untangling her role as both victim and victimizer.
    Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
  • What unfolds is not just a thriller about biotechnology run amok, but a cautionary tale about a culture where the line between health and the pursuit of a narrow beauty ideal is troublingly blurry.
    Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The events that Herbert films are undated; the movie only hints at chronology, and its dramatic arc is a surprising one, revealing a change of consciousness by way of changes of circumstance.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Allowing Brooks to steer the documentary, Apatow and Bonfiglio are able to stick to a fairly strict chronology.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • And since Freida McFadden’s book series that the movie is based on has three installments (plus one novella), this may not be the end.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The Art of Conjuring is the first novella to be released by the press.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will have play-by-play and color commentary, with sideline reporting done by Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Rather, the focus will be on Chair Powell’s commentary on the timing of the next possible rate cut.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Washington — Federal Reserve officials convene this week at a pivotal moment in the US central bank’s 112-year history, with a series of historic events putting a spotlight on their ability to set interest rates without political interference.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
  • This is the moment history will ask about.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The cemetery has been thrust into the spotlight after a Lancaster County man was accused of harvesting sets of human remains in the middle of the night, hoarding skulls, bones, and corpses, and then offering some of them for sale on his social media accounts.
    Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The buyer called the number, prompting House officials to investigate and discover that multiple phones ordered under Southerland’s account were unaccounted for, prosecutors said.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Top Destinations and Routes for Business Travel The report identifies the most traveled to cities and routes in 2025, featuring a detailed overview of activity across each major travel category.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
    Laura Romero, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Narrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrative. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

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