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 And Salinger has written short stories about his best friends with love, brilliance and 20-20 vision. Book Marks, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 Take a common homework task, such as writing a paragraph explaining the theme of a short story. Brett Dejager, The Conversation, 10 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 Build me a memorable association or short story that links their name to these details. Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
  • At 55, the Academy Award–winning actor had to train hard and eat right to maintain the body of a hero worthy of a generation-spanning epic tale.
    Max Berlinger, Vogue, 20 July 2026
  • But even within the movie’s powerful melodrama sits a secondary tale of fascistic process, one that speaks truth to power through implication and whisper.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Associated Press writers Pan Pylas and Jill Lawless contributed to this story.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Especially since there are so many stories already inside the game with the campaign aspect.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Advertisement Margaret Atwood also found a new framing for The Odyssey in her 2005 novella The Penelopiad.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026
  • The whole gang is back, ready to play their parts in this never-ending novella.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Sunday’s World Cup final will be contested by Spain and Argentina, and there are narratives to be unpacked all over the pitch.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • The social-media team’s supposed grip on the public narrative about the brand had always been tenuous.
    Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 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 25 Jul. 2026.

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