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
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Recent Examples of parable
Absurd parables like this one have been taken seriously by some of the loudest voices in Silicon Valley, many of whom are now warning that AI is an existential risk, more dangerous than nuclear weapons.
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Bryan Walsh, Vox, 5 Mar. 2025
Such a trend could be like the parable of the frog in a pot that heats so slowly the frog doesn’t notice it’s being cooked until too late, except that OPEC+ has very good thermometers.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Elegant and spare, this is an environmental parable that doesn’t hammer away at its message.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
From paintings on ancient cave walls to parables, fables, and memes, animals have served as important storytelling tools.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for parable
Bryan Walsh, Vox, 5 Mar. 2025
Such a trend could be like the parable of the frog in a pot that heats so slowly the frog doesn’t notice it’s being cooked until too late, except that OPEC+ has very good thermometers.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Elegant and spare, this is an environmental parable that doesn’t hammer away at its message.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
From paintings on ancient cave walls to parables, fables, and memes, animals have served as important storytelling tools.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for parable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parable
Noun
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Great sci-fi often serves as an allegory for current social and political issues.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2025
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The comic is often read as a political allegory, particularly resonant due to the author's disappearance under Argentina's last military dictatorship, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.—
Jenna deJong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 May 2025
Noun
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The exhibition at DuSable Black History Museum features works made by Nazareno in response to Brazilian fables that that draw inspiration from the pantheon of Orixás–a system of entities worshipped in parts of Africa and Latin America.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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The Easter Bunny is on the lookout for the best egg, and along the way, his friends tell him tales and fables.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The story splits its time between young Wash's misadventures and the older, adult Wash's tale of first love with a biracial woman, Tanna (Iola Evans), and a brush with danger in the form of bounty hunter, Willard (Billy Boyd).—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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While the sight of Lamia carrying around the proud cockerel has the makings of an image straight out of a children’s tale, nothing in the little girl’s life has storybook qualities.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parable. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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