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 While the writing is top-notch, what really makes this story stand out is the late, great Norm Macdonald voicing Death. Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Fun story here about why even top teams are beginning to prize heaves like this one. Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Cops responded to a woman’s 911 call that a man identified as Keegan Thompson, 33, armed with a shotgun, had shot two people inside the two-story home on Ocean Crest Blvd. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026 Millennials were supposed to be one generation with one story — priced out, saddled with debt, perpetually behind. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
  • Police are asking the public to come forward with information.
    Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 27 July 2026
  • Businesses must transition from human-centric data strategies to making information directly usable by AI, addressing fragmentation and inconsistency.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • In a guest commentary from Blue Springs resident and mother of two Caitlyn Adams called forth research from non-profit public policy information organization Missouri Budget Project.
    Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • The Real Risk Behind Corgi’s AI Startup Valuation Corgi’s seven-day workweek and office mattresses will generate plenty of commentary.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • We're used to seeing the Galaxy Z Fold in a tall-and-skinny chassis, but this time around, whispers are growing louder about a new passport-style shape that's more reminiscent of the first-generation Google Pixel Fold.
    Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • The Hades sequence gets much of its emotional weight from Page, as Sinon confronts Odysseus with the lie that sent him to his death.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • In a new book, author and journalist Pamela Colloff investigates a notorious con man, whose lies had devastating consequences for many who knew him.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • The plot lacks essential narrative ligaments and makes David Lynch’s canon seem downright accessible.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • In an incident some news commentators are likening to the plot of the 1984 film The Terminator, two of OpenAI’s AI models broke out of a supervised test, got themselves online, and used that access to hack into rival company Hugging Face’s systems.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Soon afterward, however, child welfare authorities removed the children from her home after concerns about their living situation.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • If the situation in the Strait remains unchanged by the Fed’s September meeting, the window for a timely policy response may have already closed, leaving the Fed behind the curve.
    Justin Zacks, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • Check out the Cannery Row Monument, then read John Steinbeck’s novella named after the waterfront street.
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
  • Fans of the graphic novel series may notice the storyline is not exactly what’s in the 2015 novella — a choice that made sense for their screen incarnations, says Oseman.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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