as in errors
a false idea or belief
the belief that going outside with wet hair will cause you to catch cold is just an old wives' tale
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tales
Noun
-
When teams have not been rigorously tested in realistic, high-pressure environments, automation can become a force multiplier for errors.—
James Hadley,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026 -
Gauff hit zero winners and compiled 11 unforced errors in the set.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the early 2020s, white supremacists turned those myths into internet propaganda.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Numerous legends and myths surround the estate.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The therapist could practice on a person pretending to have delusions, though this is likely costly and logistically complicated to arrange.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The neuropsychiatric effects of Huntington's disease include mood changes and altered thinking, such as hallucinations and delusions.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The number of charges for her webs has been reduced by one at all levels, and Incapacitating Bite can no longer be applied by illusions.—
Mike Stubbs,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In a matter of weeks, illusions that had lingered for decades collapsed.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many cultures have traditions and superstitions about how what happens on New Year’s Eve impacts the year ahead.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Here are some of the most popular superstitions to embrace for good luck or avoid for bad luck.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Old wives' tales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tales. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
