story lines

plural of story line
as in stories
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story line is clumsily interrupted several times to provide some much-needed background information

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 lines Whenever next season begins (if there is a season), a Cannarella-Marsee center field battle should be one of the most fascinating story lines. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Though soap actors usually don’t get much of a say in their characters’ story lines, the Days team understandably made an exception for Oliver. Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Dwayne Hickman starred as the titular character Dobie Gillis, the lovestruck teenager whose quest for romance drove the show’s story lines. Sophie Clausen, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Today, though, even the most milquetoast artists are positioned as the protagonists of grand story lines, their careers measured not in albums but in eras. Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 From there, readers can dive into all sorts of comics from Marvel history, from original Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics from the '60s to more recent titles and event crossovers that were the basis for MCU story lines. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 July 2026 The series combines potty-mouthed put-downs with more sentimental story lines. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 There were plenty of compelling story lines taking shape as the sun began to dip on the legendary course. Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 Because the casting and story lines that developed gave us people to root for and against—something every great Survivor season needs. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
Noun
  • The explanation behind this family man’s strange case is well chronicled in many Chicago and New York news stories.
    Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • At Khan & Kumar Media, we’re drawn to stories that resonate across cultures and borders, and ‘Forgotten Spaceman’ does exactly that.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Better to vary it up with different musical numbers and deeper plots for fun’s sake.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • These plots are located across the towns of Samaniego, Elvillar, Laguardia, Navaridas, Elciego, Leza, Labastida, San Vincente de la Sonsierra, and Ábalos.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Then in August, the UK AI Security Institute shared a report detailing how Anthropic’s Mythos 5 took autonomous, unsanctioned actions on the internet in a training evaluation, targeting real people and organizations.
    Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Colorado attorneys used the email as part of their argument that the Executive Office of the President should be required to turn over additional records related to those actions.
    Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Story lines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/story%20lines. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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