short story

Definition of short storynext
as in tale
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

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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 story Feeling neglected by Les, Lindy has struck up a retaliatory affair with his colleague Richie (O-T Fagbenle), who mistakenly submits one of her students’ short stories to The New Yorker as her own. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026 The musical is based on the short stories of Damon Runyon. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026 Her first book of fiction, the short story collection Azares del cuerpo, was published in Colombia, Chile, and Spain, and was translated into Italian and English (Variations on the Body). María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 By 1929, his agency commanded $4,000 (more than $70,000 in today’s dollars) from The Saturday Evening Post for a single short story by Fitzgerald. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
  • The 2-panel chart below tells the tale.
    Carter Braxton Worth, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Whitman’s poetry and prose; Melville’s early romances of the sea, Typee, Omoo, and Mardi; three novels by Harriet Beecher Stowe, including Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and the complete tales and sketches of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • West helms the film from a script by Nathaniel Halpern that adapts Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella.
    Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 16 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
Noun
  • But the musical’s tangled narrative web has been a stickier challenge.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Whitcomb notes the defense narrative that the attacks took place in less than five, inconsistent with the hours Turvey suspects the crime scene cleanup would have taken.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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