as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works
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Recent Examples of novella
The story is a timeless novella of love, jealousy, betrayal and tragic death, traditionally set during 1847 colonial Spain.
—
Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
In an attempt at reaching the truth and giving Johanna a chance to tell her side of the story before Johanne’s novella is published, Kristin ends up meeting with the teacher at a small café.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
The film — which hails from director Clint Bentley, who also adapted it with Greg Kwedar from Denis Johnson's 2011 novella of the same name — follows the life of a logger named Robert Grainier (Edgerton), who works to install railroads across the continental United States in the early to mid-1900s.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Based on Denis Johnson’s award-winning novella, this artful, elliptical tale of one ordinary man’s life (Edgerton) in the early 20th century has already received rave reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival.
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for novella
Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
In an attempt at reaching the truth and giving Johanna a chance to tell her side of the story before Johanne’s novella is published, Kristin ends up meeting with the teacher at a small café.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
The film — which hails from director Clint Bentley, who also adapted it with Greg Kwedar from Denis Johnson's 2011 novella of the same name — follows the life of a logger named Robert Grainier (Edgerton), who works to install railroads across the continental United States in the early to mid-1900s.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Based on Denis Johnson’s award-winning novella, this artful, elliptical tale of one ordinary man’s life (Edgerton) in the early 20th century has already received rave reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival.
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for novella
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novella
Noun
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Instead, spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will forever tell tales of his audacious 60 off just 65 balls.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Wyler’s Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – a timely tale of the weight of coming home from World War II – was named as subversive by HUAC.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This story will be updated as more information becomes available.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Novella.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novella. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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