as in tales
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 stories
Researchers in Montreal played short stories for 39 of their subjects in French, German, and Hebrew (the rest were the control group), until the babies were born.
—
Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
In the grand tradition of other kid-friendly cartoons, each episode contains two short stories.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
At times the novel felt more like a collection of short stories than one cohesive narrative — until the second half of the book, when two events, one celebratory and one heartbreaking, bring the group together.
—Zoë Jackson, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
In 2011, researchers at UC San Diego conducted a study where participants were given short stories to read.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
His five collections and dozens of uncollected short stories also show a virtuoso at work and play.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
In the autumn of his life, Henry James went back to many of his novels and short stories, submitting them to revisions sufficiently far-reaching to keep scholars happily squabbling forever.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Enjoy their eclectic fiction, including short stories, thrillers, and a novel set in the milieu of fonts and typefaces.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
In the grand tradition of other kid-friendly cartoons, each episode contains two short stories.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
At times the novel felt more like a collection of short stories than one cohesive narrative — until the second half of the book, when two events, one celebratory and one heartbreaking, bring the group together.
—Zoë Jackson, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
In 2011, researchers at UC San Diego conducted a study where participants were given short stories to read.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
His five collections and dozens of uncollected short stories also show a virtuoso at work and play.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
In the autumn of his life, Henry James went back to many of his novels and short stories, submitting them to revisions sufficiently far-reaching to keep scholars happily squabbling forever.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Enjoy their eclectic fiction, including short stories, thrillers, and a novel set in the milieu of fonts and typefaces.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short stories
Noun
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Who among us hasn’t fantasized in the shower about exacting elaborate revenge for petty upsets, or lain awake trying to reframe our humiliations as epic tales of triumph?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
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Molina shares a cell with revolutionary Valentín Arregui (Diego Luna), and the two men bond as Molina tells tales of his favorite mid-century movie star, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez), and her best film, Kiss of the Spider Woman.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
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Don't miss out on our latest stories.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One of the authors that Covici brought along with him to Viking was a young writer named John Steinbeck; his company had published Steinbeck’s novellas Tortilla Flat in 1935 and Of Mice and Men in 1937.—
Paul Slovak
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
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The four stories and three novellas within it are taken from books Lee published early in his career.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Short stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20stories. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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