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
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Recent Examples of short story
One short story about a boy in Tijuana juggling fire on the street took her nearly two years to write.
—
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Her new short story collection Bargain Bargain Bargain will be published by McClelland & Stewart in 2026.
—Hazlitt, 6 Feb. 2026
The short story collection Tenth of December was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2013 (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection).
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The award-winning poet went on to create a large body of highly influential work — including several novels, short stories and plays — that highlighted portrayals of Black life in America during the 20s to the 60s.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short story
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Her new short story collection Bargain Bargain Bargain will be published by McClelland & Stewart in 2026.
—Hazlitt, 6 Feb. 2026
The short story collection Tenth of December was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize in 2013 (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short story collection).
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The award-winning poet went on to create a large body of highly influential work — including several novels, short stories and plays — that highlighted portrayals of Black life in America during the 20s to the 60s.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
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Mikaela Shiffrin’s story of redemption is one of the greatest tales of Olympic glory at this year’s Winter Games in Italy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2026
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Rarely do these pieces directly echo the two men’s interpersonal drama, but the information adds context to the actors’ enchanting movements, which are backed by gorgeous outfits and striking set design that accentuate the mythical tales being played out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Elsewhere, stories of economic gloom – from galloping inflation to restaurant closures and the knock-on impact of severe tax increases – describe the many ways in which the prolonged war in Ukraine is now hitting Russians hard in the pocket at home.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Adapting and expanding upon a lean Don Winslow novella, Layton adds many sometimes unnecessarily complex ingredients to the pot, with characters intersecting and allegiances and motivations often contradicting one another.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Little Prince is an adaption of the beloved 1943 novella by the French author and artist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jesse Plemons, Martin Lawrence and subbing for Oprah Friday Night Lights was a game changer — both in narrative TV and Mikel’s career.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Hong Kong sits at the forefront of fashion innovation, with its vibrant community of designers and creatives who are helping to redefine the industry with sustainability, creativity and rich cultural narratives.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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