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 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
The four stories and three novellas within it are taken from books Lee published early in his career.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Benjamin Voisin, who previously worked with Ozon on Summer of 85, stars as protagonist Meursault, the novella’s French expat protagonist who senselessly kills a local man on a beach.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for novella
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
The four stories and three novellas within it are taken from books Lee published early in his career.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Benjamin Voisin, who previously worked with Ozon on Summer of 85, stars as protagonist Meursault, the novella’s French expat protagonist who senselessly kills a local man on a beach.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for novella
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novella
Noun
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Arias weaves a lovely tale of unrequited love that isn’t as unrequited in this sapphic, slow-burn romance that also touches on weighty topics, including divorce and grief.—
Mia Sosa,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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The tell-tale signs continued to add up.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As a recent ProPublica story revealed, the promises of the H-2A visa program can be undermined by extreme abuses the workers suffer, mostly by labor contractors.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
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The dream drive package includes private transfer to The Barn, Napa Valley Car Club's exclusive clubhouse, post-drive drinks and stories and return transfer.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Novella.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novella. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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