Definition of storynext
1
as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership

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2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm

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3
4
5
as in whisper
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature stories going around that the old man had died with thousands of dollars hidden under his mattress

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6
7
as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely

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8
as in situation
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

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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 story Some neighbors are concerned that the houses will be two stories, and that the developer might not pay to help complete the bike trail in the area, Pray said. Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026 Speaking to Channel 4 News, the filmmaker said the decision was intended to make Homer’s story feel more fresh to modern audiences. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2026 The stakes are consistently, palpably high in a story about love that is forbidden in the most literal, systemic sense — and felt in brief, ecstatic moments of release. Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 July 2026 Recovery Is Not The Same As Return One of the biggest mistakes investors make in turnaround stories is assuming that a business recovery and an investment return are the same thing. Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • The agonizing legal circus surrounding Sumner Redstone’s final years at Paramount/Viacom is a sobering cautionary tale.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • The past few summers have seen nightmare tales from heatwaves in Europe — the continent with the fastest-rising temperatures under global warming.
    Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • One expert noted that turning satellite data into information useful to firefighters and forestry managers will take some time.
    Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Hart went into writing the ballad with that information, but the rest was up to him.
    Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • The platform has featured traditional adverts for bets, but CazéTV’s commentators have also promoted betting during the games, blending advertising with commentary of the action on the pitch.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • But eccentricity is only the visible tip of the vast iceberg of Vibeke’s mental health issues, and soon Karl and Rikke are conferring in low whispers about whether, and when, to slip some ground-up sleeping pills into her drink.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 7 July 2026
  • Students enter the classroom about a minute later, and voices, whispers and laughter can be heard before the recording ends.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • When two young lovers find themselves up against stubborn, money-minded fathers, Scapin jumps into action with outrageous tricks, bold lies, and comic chaos at every turn.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
  • That includes everything from feeding the lie that Obama was not born in the United States to crude generalizations about majority-Black countries and posts that have sparked anger on his Truth Social website.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Evans also said that teenagers as young as 15 have been arrested by police in relation to proxy plots.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • While the plot is being kept under wraps, sources say the film will be a horror thriller, which excited Feig, who, after successfully directing global hit The Housemaid this past Christmas, wanted to try something even darker.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Lamine Yamal also complained about the readaptation exercises he was given after suffering a groin injury, but the situation blew up when Raphinha suffered multiple setbacks from a hamstring injury in October.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 10 July 2026
  • Wars and greenhouse gases The greenhouse gas emissions generated by the war add yet another dimension to an already grave situation.
    Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • The whole gang is back, ready to play their parts in this never-ending novella.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Ferris Bueller's Day Off star recently gushed about working with Star Wars icon Mark Hamill on the 2025 movie The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan and based on the Stephen King novella of the same name.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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