as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son who is welcomed home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of parable
The story is often described as a parable of freedom versus control.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
Bathed in a pink-pop glow, its pastiche of romance and horror collide in a viciously mischievous parable of technology and control that speaks to these most anxious times.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 30 June 2025
It’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story.
—Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The series of parables and contained narratives are also dotted with evidence of time travel.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parable
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
Bathed in a pink-pop glow, its pastiche of romance and horror collide in a viciously mischievous parable of technology and control that speaks to these most anxious times.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 30 June 2025
It’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story.
—Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The series of parables and contained narratives are also dotted with evidence of time travel.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parable
Noun
-
Figgis weaves together archival material, unfiltered cast interviews, and a close-up view of how Coppola drew from Roman history, political allegory, and his own singular vision to shape the world of Megalopolis.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
-
But The Women’s Credit Gap Is Real The story of First Women’s Bank of New York City is an allegory of denial that the women’s credit gap exists.—
Ann Rutledge,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Swift’s dismay about a powerful ex became a fable for any girl courted by an older guy.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
-
This fable includes abuse and hatred, darkness, magic, love.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The tale is pilfered from the Aeneid, but Virgil would blench to see the curtain rise on Jupiter, dandling Ganymede, a beautiful boy, upon his knee.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet imagined the relationship between the Bard and his spouse as an intimate tale of lust, compromise, joy, resentment, support, and sorrow.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parable. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share