old wives' tales

Definition of old wives' talesnext
plural of old wives' tale

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tales
Noun
  • Arize tests and monitors RAG pipelines as well as the agents and applications built on them—debugging and hunting down errors and hallucinations.
    Erik German, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez and first baseman Connor Norby made errors, raising Miami's NL-high total to 15 in 15 games.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The film critiques persistent myths in medical science and highlights the effects of systemic racism on health outcomes, while also promoting discourse and solutions through a robust outreach campaign aimed at educating communities and healthcare institutions about these pressing issues.
    Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Dielz’s encyclopedia of flowers contains illustrations of and factoids, poems, and myths about flowers.
    Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The case has rightly focused attention on how chatbots apparently reinforce delusions and foster emotional dependency.
    Marc Augustin, STAT, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Lying in this crypt is Nathan Lane’s Willy Loman, a tragic humbug, his delusions contradicted by the ruins around him.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s now no mainstream because there are now fewer illusions, both regarding the public and regarding what goes on behind the scenes; the transparency and the resulting scrutiny that extend to the economics and social life of movies extend to the art of cinema as well.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, Angine de Poitrine are more like Meshuggah or Dawn of Midi, establishing a meter and then creating rhythmic illusions using creative bursts of syncopation.
    Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Most traditions in Southern families have been passed down from generations, including some superstitions.
    Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
  • What are some Friday the 13th superstitions?
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 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 20 Apr. 2026.

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