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 Democrats have long denied involvement in the non-incumbent Sullivan's candidacy, and both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC reiterated those denials after the Times story published. — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026 An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that DoorDash's profit and revenue for the latest quarter missed analysts' expectations. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of indigenous cultures and people. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Sharpless says, in the West, sleep paralysis overlapped with stories about vampires, witches, and ghosts. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
  • On the other, Anthropic has argued that its AI model, Claude, has shown signs of introspection, internal states that mirror joy or satisfaction, and processing information similar to the human mind.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • State officials had provided a version of the rolls that withheld such sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who is Jewish, publicly blasted Vang’s fundraiser with Piker, citing his history of commentary that critics including the Anti-Defamation League have called antisemitic and misogynistic.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Considering Intel's guidance on the worsening PC slowdown, commentary on current-quarter demand will carry more weight than the September-quarter results.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Chiefly, engineers will need to design lightweight compressors that can capture and pressurize the whisper-thin Martian air.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • The Chinese government has refuted the claims as lies and defended its practice and policy in Xinjiang as fighting terror and ensuring stability.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Paytas alleged that Ethan would spread lies about her family after the podcast ended and mocked her most traumatizing moments, like being molested by a teacher as a child.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • On the way across the bay, Melanie is attacked by a random seagull, setting up the sinister plot device.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of forcing plot onto his amorously hapless characters, Shaw explores leitmotifs in a playful, contrapuntal fashion.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That count includes troops who died in medical events and other situations that do not have a direct connection to the conflict, with 18 service members having been killed from Iranian strikes, combat aircraft crashes or disposal of Iranian drones.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Gottschalck said the drought situations are expected to persist this winter across the Midwest.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • There are eight books total, but one is a collection of five prequel novellas.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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