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 Written by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, the screenplay is adapted from the short story The Wicker Husband. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2026 Much of the rest of the film, adapted from a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones and directed by real-life couple Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, focuses on the couple’s staggering carnal connection. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 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 King initially meant to write a short story after reading an article in Life magazine about telekinesis. — ArsTechnica, 21 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
Noun
  • Long story short, campers stay warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot nights without a loud, emissions-spewing engine or generator running in the background.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • While two of the three semifinalists had a base camp here, and international stars like Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham lived in Kansas City, the biggest story arguably was what happened west of town.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Gould chalked this not-so-novel novella’s timing up to nostalgia.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The show is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film and Daphne du Maurier’s novella of the same name.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In a moment when utopia remains nowhere but dystopia seemingly everywhere, what’s the utility of this particular narrative, of any of these stories?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
  • As a child, Link looks almost cherubic, along with the perpetually young Kokiri, and adult Link is a more detailed version of his non-toon GameCube and Wii descendants (in terms of game progression, not in-universe narrative).
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

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“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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