short stories

noun

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

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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 In many classic short stories, the real action occurs in the silences. — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026 And Salinger has written short stories about his best friends with love, brilliance and 20-20 vision. — Book Marks, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 Yates brought out three more novels in the 1980s, along with another book of short stories, Liars in Love (1981). — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 Child has penned 29 Jack Reacher novels, as well as a book of short stories. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 These invasion fictions took a range of forms, from short stories and pamphlets to novellas and full-length novels, and proliferated especially in the late-Victorian and Edwardian period leading up to World War I, which brought the subgenre’s brief flourishing to an end. — Ivan Kreilkamp, JSTOR Daily, 10 June 2026 Since then, the latter has authored over 40 fantasy and science fiction works, including novels, graphic novels, young adult novels and short stories which have collectively sold over 50 million copies worldwide. — Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026 In February of that year, Gabriel García Márquez, then a law student who was beginning to publish his first short stories in newspapers, attended a demonstration led by Gaitán. — Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026 The Book Catapult Specializing in literary fiction, short stories and narrative nonfiction. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short stories
  1. stories
  2. tales
  3. novellas
Noun
  • Every day, Cord Shiflet drives 200 miles round trip from Austin, helping survivors tell their stories, connecting them with resources and raising more than $50,000 for affected families through Facebook.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Their service stories had many similarities, and their appreciation for their Honor Flight experience was wonderful to hear about.
    — Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of stories
Noun
  • Now 94, Cynthia still entertains with tales of bygone Barbados at the family's regular guest cocktail parties, whilst dinner is underscored by jazz singers and instrumentalists.
    — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
  • Among the most famous tales is that of Prince Ivan Kanitovski, who was reportedly murdered shortly after acquiring it.
    — Eliza Prosperini, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026
Definition of tales
Noun
  • Crime fiction aficionados are sure to devour this collection of six novellas from the bestselling author.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026
  • These invasion fictions took a range of forms, from short stories and pamphlets to novellas and full-length novels, and proliferated especially in the late-Victorian and Edwardian period leading up to World War I, which brought the subgenre’s brief flourishing to an end.
    — Ivan Kreilkamp, JSTOR Daily, 10 June 2026
Definition of novellas

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Cite this Entry

“Short stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20stories. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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