Thesaurus results for SHORT STORY

short story

noun

Definition of short story

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

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 story Hanks penned the play with James Glossman, with the plot based on a series of short stories written by Hanks in the book Uncommon Type. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 This World of Tomorrow is based on a series of short stories written by Hanks. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 King initially meant to write a short story after reading an article in Life magazine about telekinesis. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 The location is where famed writer Edgar Allan Poe began penning short stories and launched his literary career in the 1830s. — CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story

Noun

Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
The tale is energized by the thoughtful performances of Hanns Zischler, as Mann, and Sandra Hüller, as the author’s daughter Erika, who accompanies him while reviving conflicts from her own past.

— Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tale

Noun

Based on his 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, Barker wrote and directed the first Hellraiser movie the following year, introducing audiences to Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and his Cenobites.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
Late Fame was adapted faithfully from the Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler’s late nineteenth-century novella, itself a recent recovery, but the transposition to the present functions only up until this point.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of novella

Noun

But what sticks is the potential of fanfic narratives, born of the desire to see resonant characters in new dynamics and situations.

— Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026
The narrative was that the property insurance market was being crushed by litigation, fraudulent claims, contractors and, yes, the lawyers who represented policyholders.

— Matthew T. Christ, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrative

Browse Nearby Words

short stories

short story

short subject

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of short story

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on short story

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes