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 Sweets, however – which the researchers defined as sugars, and sweetened foods and beverages – were a different story. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The injuries left her paralyzed from the waist down after jumping from a second-story window. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 Kazan pared down much of the Hamilton family’s story for the show and centered Cathy (Florence Pugh), whose arrival alters the lives of the Trask brothers, Adam (Christopher Abbott) and Charles (Mike Faist). — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The inference was that Jamie had planted a disparaging story about his older brother to hasten his exit. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • The play is a gently unfolding, calmly delivered tale of the decades of horrors endured by a real-life person named Eddie Jaku.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • And for Netflix, Bayona helmed Society of the Snow, a drama based on the true-life tale of the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Jamal, meanwhile, was allegedly handing over information about his clients to the FBI.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Compelling information, but not strong enough to convince a politician.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the years preceding his 2003 indictment for making false immigration claims, Jamal became an outspoken advocate whom local media began to heavily rely on to provide Somali-specific or Muslim-centric commentary.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • However, tracking the trends in the report helps in our understanding of the economic backdrop in which our companies are operating, along with official government data and companies’ results and commentary.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But these aren’t the delicate whispers of citrus and florals that dominate summer.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Dyson Air Purifier Early Prime Day Deal The Dyson Hushjet is a compact, small-form air purifier that's whisper-quiet but powerful.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • There was money, manipulation, secret meetings with shady characters in China, fake identities, lies, trickery, and deceit.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • During that time, German intelligence would question the Sparrows, giving Duke an opportunity to sell the lie.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Currently in production in London, System‘s plot isn’t being disclosed.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Accenture said implementation, over 25,000 supply chain workflows have been executed, and close to nearly 25,000 land plots have been monitored automatically.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The creditors’ lawsuit claims that Kenny engineered a situation in which Thai Union could control Red Lobster’s seafood purchasing—cutting out competitors and charging higher prices for shrimp.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This idea of art as an impermanent intervention in the situation of things seems to be the essence of Mono-ha in Japan.
    — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • As for the sitting president, he’s named just once, in the opening line of the titular novella.
    — Ryan Chapman, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The company is working on a feature adaptation of Pulitzer Prize finalist Torrey Peters’ novella Stag Dance and a feature romantic comedy from Carly Usdin and Brittani Nichols featuring WNBA players Gabby Williams, Theresa Plaisance, and Syd Colson.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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