OLD WIVES' TALES Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tales

Noun

In 2023, fewer than 2% of grievances filed in federal prisons were approved, with most rejected for procedural errors or closed for other reasons.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 July 2026
Sinner produced 58 winners to Zverev’s 49 and had only 25 unforced errors to Zverev’s 45.

— Andrew Dampf, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026

Definition of errors

Noun

To drink is to enter of a labyrinth of romantic, thrilling, even glamorous myths; to give up drinking is to give those up too.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
The movie, which starred an orca named Keiko, also dispelled myths about the killer whale and inspired activism around their captivity.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 9 July 2026

Definition of myths

Noun

On their debut album, the Detroit musician skewers social-climbing scene darlings and tackles personal existential delusions over a frenetic blend of post-punk and electro-pop.

— Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
Petty played Lolly Whitehill, a kind but mentally unstable inmate whose paranoid delusions repeatedly landed her in psychiatric care.

— Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026

Definition of delusions

Noun

Neither of them, however, had any illusions about his prospects.

— Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Because only in intense, rarefied states will our illusions finally drop away, like redundant scaffolding, freeing us to perceive life on a more visceral level.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

Definition of illusions

Noun

Memorable matches, sacrifices, personal style, and superstitions were volleyed back and forth in a lively conversation Thursday night with tennis stars Andre Agassi, Caroline Wozniacki, Genie Bouchard, and James Blake, hosted by Ralph Lauren.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
Baseball is famous for routines and superstitions.

— Adam Annaccone, The Conversation, 22 June 2026

Definition of superstitions

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old wives' tale

old wives' tales

old-world

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“Old wives' tales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tales. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of old wives' tales

noun

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