short stories

Definition of short storiesnext
plural of short story
as in stories
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 stories The screenplay is adapted from short stories by Ajeet Cour, an influential and pioneering feminist voice in modern Punjabi literature. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026 Behrman's award winning short stories have been published in journals, magazines, short story dispensers and an anthology. Literary Hub, 15 May 2026 He was inspired by short stories by Liu Yichang. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2026 Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor. René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026 Our subscribers enjoy unlimited access to more than a hundred years’ worth of New Yorker articles, covers, cartoons, short stories, podcasts, and puzzles. David Remnick, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 The centerpiece of this movie — and what blew me away in the play, as read by Strong — is the absolutely unhinged monologue Jackie delivers, reading from her short stories. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026 Eugène de Rastignac is a recurring character in La Comédie humaine, a series of interconnected novels and short stories by the French writer Honoré de Balzac that take place in and around post-revolutionary Paris. Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026 Those close to Khong marvel at the long half-life of her short stories. Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short stories
Noun
  • 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, 17 May 2026
  • Superhero stories are copaganda; sitcoms sell middle-class norms.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 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

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Cite this Entry

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

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