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old wives' tales

noun

plural of old wives' tale
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tales
  1. errors
  2. myths
  3. delusions
  4. illusions
  5. superstitions
Noun
  • Subsequent investigations by an inspector general and Justice Department prosecutors identified errors by FBI agents but found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by senior law enforcement officials nor proof of an anti-Trump conspiracy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Any factual errors can be identified during the reporting process.
    — Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of errors
Noun
  • He’s best known as the creator and star of the show Adam Ruins Everything — debunking cultural myths and other prevalent misconceptions — which ran for three seasons on TruTV.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The collection The Lucas Museum describes narrative art broadly as visual art that tells stories or communicates the beliefs, values, and myths through which people understand themselves and their societies.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of myths
Noun
  • But ChatGPT allegedly did not stop fueling the delusions as Lines’ messages grew darker.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Psychosis is a complete break from reality and involves hallucinations and delusions.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of delusions
Noun
  • The Hering and Wundt illusions are examples of how straight lines can appear curved if intersecting lines cross them at a certain angle.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In each case, however, modern physics has shown these assumptions to be illusions.
    — Adam Frank, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of illusions
Noun
  • The whatever that locked life in the truths of biology, chemistry, physics, far from the hysteria and superstitions of her heart, her family, history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Pao has always believed that science can explain everything, despite her mother’s crazy superstitions.
    — Kavya Dhillon, Parents, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of superstitions
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.

Browse Nearby Words

old wives' tale
old wives' tales
old-world
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Cite this Entry

“Old wives' tales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tales. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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