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
These are films that reflect the human condition through inspirational tales of struggle, tragic true stories, life-threatening conflicts, and intimate psychological portraits.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The emotional power of Miller’s tale has always radiated from disintegration – of Willy, of his family, of his dreams.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
From a chirping sound mistaken for rats to a community celebration on the riverbank, Melby’s story hits every note of a feel-good rescue tale — with a 105-pound weight gain as the ultimate proof of a job well done.
—Ryan Brennan
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Kallerup’s against-the-odds tale centers around a pinky and no promises.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The emotional power of Miller’s tale has always radiated from disintegration – of Willy, of his family, of his dreams.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
From a chirping sound mistaken for rats to a community celebration on the riverbank, Melby’s story hits every note of a feel-good rescue tale — with a 105-pound weight gain as the ultimate proof of a job well done.
—Ryan Brennan
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Kallerup’s against-the-odds tale centers around a pinky and no promises.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tale
Noun
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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.—
Joyann Jeffrey,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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Her supporters, including Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, a family friend, decried her alleged detainment, and her story sparked outcry and protests.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In an interview with The Times, Sid confessed that the whole thing was a lie concocted by a publicist in the 1940s.—
Anabel Sosa,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
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And from that data, the airliner learned that 97 percent of fliers said the lie-flat bed was their reason for flying in Delta One.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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James Ashcroft wrote and directed the film, which was adapted from Elizabeth Engstrom’s 1980s novella of the same name.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
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Adapted from Algernon Blackwood’s supernatural novella, The Man Whom the Trees Loved is a ghostly tale of the inexplicable horrors of nature.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His few lines of dialogue have a power that far exceeds their word count, but what speaks for Jeremy most of the time are his physical gestures, which blend blank detachment with willful ferocity.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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While 10,000 steps has long been promoted as a daily goal, studies have shown that many health benefits—especially for older adults—can occur at lower step counts.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With further study, Fukasawa’s team hopes to match specific electric signals to corresponding activity within mushroom whisper networks.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
1 Apr. 2026
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Behind every trauma and calamity, whether personal or global, whispers of Jewish machination can be heard by those already listening for them.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Conducted by Daniela Candillari and directed by Patricia Racette this Appalachian fable will star Gabriella Reyes as Susannah.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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As a political fable this is potent stuff.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After doing its own audit from the election, a local citizens group has claimed the county’s tally was falsely inflated by more than 45,000 votes.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Voz das Comunidades, or Voice of the Communities, a neighborhood news service, even created a smartphone application to combat misinformation while also notifying community members of daily death tallies.—
Jessica A.J. Rich,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In his first season of organized hoops, at 5 years old, Knueppel didn’t score.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Brayden McNabb replied for Vegas (36-26-16) less than three minutes later, sending a shot through traffic to tie the score at 1.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tale. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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