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
Noun
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The problem with quantum phase estimation The second algorithm analyzed, QPE, is designed for future fault-tolerant quantum computers that can correct their own errors.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026 -
On March 6, NIPSCO uploaded three direct testimonies in the case with employees that explained the errors.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Combatting myths and fears Tracy Hobbs changed her mind recently.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2026
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And like all enduring myths, there are lessons embedded along the way.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2026
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In addition to delusions and mania, the study found an increase in suicidal ideation and self-harm, disordered eating behaviors, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Only hours into the conflict, an errant strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in southern Iran served as a gut-wrenching reminder of the cost of such illusions, and a testament to the grim truth that those who pay most dearly for the fog of war are almost always the innocent.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
4 Mar. 2026
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Miuccia Prada, herself a billionaire, has no illusions that the runway is a space for political grandstanding.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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What are some Friday the 13th superstitions?—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Mar. 2026
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The zodiac signs and their associated superstitions spread from Mesopotamia to Greece and Rome and eventually became part of European tradition.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
8 Mar. 2026
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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 21 Mar. 2026.
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