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 Shifts in scale allude to the fractal nature of the narrative, and characters and story lines make cameo appearances from booklet to booklet. — Chris Ware, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026 On Housewives, story lines grow tired and repetitive, and attempts to shake up the dynamics inevitably fall flat as the show reverts back to a familiar staleness. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026 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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for story lines
Noun
  • The histories, stories and insights into personalities will be lost forever.
    — Gary Barron, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • When researchers tell stories about people who are victims of crimes—ranging from having an iPad stolen to being raped—such victims are seen as virtuous, more moral and more trustworthy than comparable people who have not been victimized.
    — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The book lovers said these narratives were particularly approachable, with engaging plots, gripping prose and relatable characters.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Proposal 3 lets the city undertake street safety improvements, sell unused plots of land, and lease office space all with a little bit less hoop-jumping.
    — Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • United Nations commissions have formally concluded that Russian military actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity — murder, forced displacement and systematic persecution.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
  • None of this absolves Karen of responsibility for her actions, and sober counselors will readily tell you that the process of recovery can and often does fundamentally alter a relationship’s dynamics.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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