stories

Definition of storiesnext
plural of story
1
as in tales
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in anecdotes
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
6
as in plots
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
as in situations
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 stories Through their discussions, and the essays and stories that they were assigned to write each week, Heidi came to know her students’ pain. Nicholas Dawidoff, New Yorker, 10 May 2026 Each day, they are filled with one-dimensional stories of beatings, stabbing and shootings — all sad accounts of a city in decline. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026 Galvin later confronted the man who had messaged Kianna, who told her several different stories, according to Childs’ report. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 There’s just one high-rise hotel on the beachfront (nine stories counts as a high-rise in these parts). Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026 Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world. Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026 The ground zero of all stories of literary fandom begins and ends with Misery, whose characters were immortalized by Kathy Bates and James Caan in the movie adaptation of this psychological thriller. Laura Zigman, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 During Monday’s meeting, VanTrust Vice President of Development David Rezac showed renderings of the new office building — a 450,000 square foot building that will feature three amenity decks, 6 stories of parking, an outdoor plaza space, and a retreat center with an amphitheater. Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026 Some of the original board members are still involved with the museum, but hundreds more joined the effort, some volunteering, others donating surf boards and memorabilia, and many sharing their stories, including famous surfers from Eddie Aikau, Nat Young, Greg Noll and Donald Takayama. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stories
Noun
  • Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
  • During a recent interview at Netflix’s Hollywood complex, the 70-year-old Davis was loose and vibrant, spilling out colorful anecdotes and celebrating what appears to be a fresh and exciting moment.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Plaintiff attorneys have built similar tools capable of producing polished demand letters, medical chronologies, and settlement ranges using massive legal datasets.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The Southern Sinagua people, hardy folk who lived in the area from about 1150 to around 1400, drew them to mark major happenings in their world, keep chronologies of celestial events or map out favorite Verde River hotspots.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Of course, this being DC and the WHCD, there are always whispers and smoke.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The amount of hearing patients gained varied, but 80% achieved at least some significant hearing restoration and 42% ended up with normal hearing, which included the ability to hear whispers, Regeneron says.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Created by Tyler Perry as a spinoff of the BET+ series Sistas, the series follows Zac (Devale Ellis) and Fatima (Crystal Renee Hayslett) as their relationship is tested by secrets and lies.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
  • Having to fight and co-exist with those hell-bent on spewing lies and attention-grabbing hyperbole only clouds up the room, ruins the mood and takes away minutes from those who have been tackling real problems that truly need their government’s help.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Double doors open onto an outdoor terrace and reveal a private plunge pool, a double daybed, and multiple seating areas, each ideally suited for enjoying a morning coffee or a late-afternoon glass of Corsican wine, overlooking the surrounding plots of lavender and olive trees.
    Rebekah Peppler, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026
  • He was protected by a large security detail during his appearance, as recent reports claim that the Kremlin has tightened its monitoring of Putin amid fears of assassination attempts and possible coup plots.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • At the same time, Walmsley went on, situations like the one in Arcadia are forcing an industry-wide reckoning.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • Last season, the Royals thrived in these situations with a 33-19 record that was the third-best in baseball.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
  • House of the Dragon premieres its third season this summer ahead of a fourth and likely final season in 2028, while A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin's Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas, is in production on season 2 for release in 2027.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stories. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stories

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster