1
as in story
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature
don't believe the tales you hear about our neighbor's kid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally
asked Dad to tell once again the tale of how, as a kid, he broke his arm jumping out of a tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
told tall tales in an attempt to impress me with her supposedly upper-crust background
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in novella
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
the oft-told tale of Sleeping Beauty
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 tale
More than just a mere tale of medieval heroism, this is a surreal, gorgeous piece of work that challenges preconceptions of fantasy dramas and feels vitally fresh.
—
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Wrexham’s Hollywood script Ridiculous rise, incredible achievements, two very likeable owners and a working-class town and club reborn by one of modern football’s most famous rags-to-riches tales.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The first is the absorbing tale of Camila’s abduction, an event that predates the Apache Wars by several decades.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
The tale has since been adapted into a 2023 horror film of the same name.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Wrexham’s Hollywood script Ridiculous rise, incredible achievements, two very likeable owners and a working-class town and club reborn by one of modern football’s most famous rags-to-riches tales.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The first is the absorbing tale of Camila’s abduction, an event that predates the Apache Wars by several decades.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
The tale has since been adapted into a 2023 horror film of the same name.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tale
Noun
-
Like mentioned previously, the staff felt incredibly in touch with the guests of the 50-story hotel, creating a personalized experience that is a feat for the size of the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The full text for this story was provided via a press release from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sanity becomes compromise, evasion, a lie.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Except, of course, that’s a lie — a keypad is capable of nothing on its own.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For reading widely, there’s discovery to be had among novellas, which thanks to their short length can get away with being weird and different.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Some fans braced themselves for the possibility of another Crescent City update or perhaps a short novella—no shade, but expectations were cautiously low.—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lucas was correct on all counts.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Nikita Casap, 18, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in Waukesha County Circuit Court in connection with the shooting deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and stepfather, Donald Mayer, in 2025.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There can be a whisper-fine line between feature and bug, and in its persistent thickness and archness of atmosphere, Cold War Choir Practice slides right up to that boundary and perches there.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The world discovered what had once felt like a whisper.—
Gina Góngora,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jesse Andrews was one of the writers on Pixar’s whimsical Italian Riviera fable Luca, a gentle charmer that became a 2021 pandemic casualty, bypassing theaters to go straight to Disney+.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Author Laurel Snyder and illustrator LeUyen Pham are a kidlit dream team, and their warm and wise picture book fable will easily find its way into young readers’ hearts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But on Tuesday, Adebayo kept going, for no reason but to pad his points tally in pursuit of Kobe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The final individual and team tallies reflected it.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Columbus tied the score late for the second straight home game.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Chiefs had a 1-9 mark in one-score contests last fall.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tale. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
