as in stories
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
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 short stories
In February of that year, Gabriel García Márquez, then a law student who was beginning to publish his first short stories in newspapers, attended a demonstration led by Gaitán.
—
Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
The 7,000+ entries are read and evaluated by a team of professional readers who have the task of recommending a longlist of about two hundred short stories to the judging panel.
—Literary Hub, 22 May 2026
The Book Catapult Specializing in literary fiction, short stories and narrative nonfiction.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Last year's International Booker Prize went to Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories from author Banu Mushtaq about the lives of girls and women in south Indian Muslim communities.
—Ivy Buck, NPR, 19 May 2026
The screenplay is adapted from short stories by Ajeet Cour, an influential and pioneering feminist voice in modern Punjabi literature.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026
He was inspired by short stories by Liu Yichang.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Our subscribers enjoy unlimited access to more than a hundred years’ worth of New Yorker articles, covers, cartoons, short stories, podcasts, and puzzles.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
The 7,000+ entries are read and evaluated by a team of professional readers who have the task of recommending a longlist of about two hundred short stories to the judging panel.
—Literary Hub, 22 May 2026
The Book Catapult Specializing in literary fiction, short stories and narrative nonfiction.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Last year's International Booker Prize went to Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories from author Banu Mushtaq about the lives of girls and women in south Indian Muslim communities.
—Ivy Buck, NPR, 19 May 2026
The screenplay is adapted from short stories by Ajeet Cour, an influential and pioneering feminist voice in modern Punjabi literature.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026
He was inspired by short stories by Liu Yichang.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Our subscribers enjoy unlimited access to more than a hundred years’ worth of New Yorker articles, covers, cartoons, short stories, podcasts, and puzzles.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short stories
Noun
-
The Logistics Managers’ Index for April was at the root of many bearish stories.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
-
Participants described a strong demand for stories rooted in care, emotional safety, dignity, joy, support, healing, stability, and full humanity.—
Dominique Fluker,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
His story mostly exists in the 13th century version of Arthurian tales known as the Vulgate Cycle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Ollinger was known to indulge fans with tales of unusual encounters with possible paranormal connection.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
House of the Dragon premieres its third season this summer ahead of a fourth and likely final season in 2028, while A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin's Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas, is in production on season 2 for release in 2027.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20stories. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
