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 After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025 Don't miss out on our latest stories. PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025 Their stories have been told (and told). Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 One of my favourite stories about Eddie Gray — Mr Leeds United — comes from his first stint as manager of the club in the 1980s. Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story
Noun
  • This is the fourth Hammer Frankenstein film but only the third directed by Terence Fisher – after nine years away from the Baron’s experiments, Fisher returns for a gut-punching tale of undesirable outsiders, execution anxiety, and gender-bent possession.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Lane Neely, a park interpreter for Caddo Lake State Park, told USA TODAY that he's heard tales about a lake creature and a ghostly woman.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Miller’s approach to storytelling technique is as straightforward as the chronology, with a few exceptions.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • While the novel examines clashes between diverging approaches to justice, honor, and community, its looping chronology illustrates the inescapable ripples of national and family histories.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The interior aims for a whisper quiet experience with acoustic glass, and features leather seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions.
    Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
  • While the ability to hear a whisper is remarkable, the more essential question is whether the children could understand what was being said.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Settle into lie-flat leather seating, savor gourmet meals prepared by a private chef, and enjoy a selection of fine wines and spirits.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Like many people, she was taken in by his lies.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Beyond its seemingly cinematic plot, the robbery was a clear example of how thieves have started targeting cultural institutions not necessarily for their prized paintings, but for artifacts that can be dismantled, stripped or melted down for their expensive parts.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Surprises are part and parcel of a horror movie, but more as jump scares or scary reveals or whatever, not a merry jaunt around another plot thread.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • No matter what situation arises, the player knows how to solve it.
    Joe Boylan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Finally, enforcement can put an unnecessary policing burden on teachers or administrators, especially in situations in which a student’s gender identity is not immediately apparent from their appearance.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • It’s adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella and follows Robert Grainier, a logger working on the railroad that will cross the United States, at the turn of the 20th century.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
  • In total, Harrison wrote 14 books for the series, as well as a series of five mini-summer novellas and a Cliquetionary, a guide to the tween characters' slang.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The dearth of information has repeatedly led to inaccuracies in media reports, and on sanctions and law enforcement lists.
    Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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