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 Build me a memorable association or short story that links their name to these details. Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Daily Fiction By Mac Crane The following is from Mac Crane's debut short story collection, Perverts. Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Child has penned 29 Jack Reacher novels, as well as a book of short stories. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 My first videoplay was Remembering Toba Tek Singh, 1999, inspired by a short story on the 1947 partition of the subcontinent by Sa’adat Hassan Manto. Zehra Jumabhoy, Artforum, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
  • There’s a house on the property where Francis Ford Coppola filmed Vito Corleone avenging his mother’s death in The Godfather Part II, but Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were interested in a much older tale about Sicily—one of gods and mortals.
    Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 14 July 2026
  • This underdog tale — a popular trope in musical theater — offers many moving moments, though several feel cloying.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • Cholowsky visited Chicago for a few days in early June, talking to coaches and executives, hanging out with players and listening to Jerry Reinsdorf’s baseball stories.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Hawthorne recounted a story about the day he was drafted, when new Steelers teammate Joe Greene came to his family’s door.
    Jim Barnes July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • The whole gang is back, ready to play their parts in this never-ending novella.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Ferris Bueller's Day Off star recently gushed about working with Star Wars icon Mark Hamill on the 2025 movie The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan and based on the Stephen King novella of the same name.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • On Saturday, while wearing a crisp, new black Portland Trail Blazers polo shirt, Morant talked of fresh starts, a rejuvenated and nature-loving version of himself and the desire to change narratives.
    Jason Quick, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • The story portrays the lives of adolescents today through their own eyes, allowing their voices and perspectives to shape the narrative in a genuine and convincing way.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 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 17 Jul. 2026.

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