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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tale
So, for me, this experience of taking this film out on the road has been a tale of two cities.
—
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Fleshing out the hauntingly pretty skeleton of an old palmento (a wine press carved into black lava stone basins with old millstones), Zash Boutique Hotel & Spa’s restaurant sits under a grand peachy house, all blistered by the sun and brimming with tales from its noble past.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Ganis said a cautionary tale just played out when the Kansas City Chiefs announced plans to leave Missouri for Kansas.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
In the days leading up to his sentencing hearing, Harris penned a letter to Judge White, summarizing his life as a tale of obstacles overcome, traumatic experiences and regret.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
Fleshing out the hauntingly pretty skeleton of an old palmento (a wine press carved into black lava stone basins with old millstones), Zash Boutique Hotel & Spa’s restaurant sits under a grand peachy house, all blistered by the sun and brimming with tales from its noble past.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Ganis said a cautionary tale just played out when the Kansas City Chiefs announced plans to leave Missouri for Kansas.
—Chris Tye, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
In the days leading up to his sentencing hearing, Harris penned a letter to Judge White, summarizing his life as a tale of obstacles overcome, traumatic experiences and regret.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tale
Noun
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This two-story home provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and three baths.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Whenever the president floated some bizarre policy idea, issued a new threat, or told a brazen lie about the state of the economy, Hassett would be one of the first people on cable news justifying it.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Our entire relationship was built on a lie.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And since Freida McFadden’s book series that the movie is based on has three installments (plus one novella), this may not be the end.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
6 Jan. 2026
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The Art of Conjuring is the first novella to be released by the press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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With a moderate 320-thread-count sateen weave, the fabric balances breathability and smoothness while staying cool to the touch.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
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Now, nearly a decade after their divorce was finalized, McKee is in custody in Illinois after being arrested on two counts of murder in connection with the Tepes’ deaths, records show.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And then, there were whispers about health care staff who were a little too vocal, finding their tires slashed when their workday ended.—
Mary Buser,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Mazur recommends this ultra-dark, vampy polish, which has a warm red base and just a whisper of black.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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One of the toasts of Sundance, Cherien Dabis’s look at the life of a Palestinian family through the decades is a moral fable in the guise of an epic drama.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
10 Jan. 2026
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The film is a fable with a modern twist.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Viktor Arvidsson had been in the thick of everything in the first two games of the homestand, but had not been rewarded with a tally.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Instead of revealing the tally of the jury votes on the island, final players would have to wait to learn their fates months later, when the show aired.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Chavez hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 57, then Oklahoma finally took the lead on a layup by Payton Verhulst with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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Of the Panthers’ eight wins this season, seven have come in one-score margins.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tale. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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