1
as in stories
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
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2
as in anecdotes
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 lies
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 novellas
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
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Recent Examples of tales
Amid social turmoil, three intertwining tales of disillusioned misfits collide under the machinations of an all-seeing institution.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, these supernatural tales drop into the story as conveniences rather than as spiritual experiences.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Hers is a dark, dark mind that weaves deceptively simple tales into terrifying psychological page turners like The Housemaid.
—E.l. James, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Mix recounts tales of exceptional Chargers teammates, including Lance Alworth, Ernie Ladd and Jack Kemp.
—Ron Mix, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Among gravesites and crooked slabs, this medieval tapestry of bell towers, vaulted corridors, and sacred frescoes whispered tales of faith and persecution.
—Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Orion was a giant huntsman whom Zeus placed amongst the stars, securing his place in heroic tales for all time.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
Damann takes guests to the visitor center which has its own fish tales to tell.
—John Lauritsen, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, these supernatural tales drop into the story as conveniences rather than as spiritual experiences.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Hers is a dark, dark mind that weaves deceptively simple tales into terrifying psychological page turners like The Housemaid.
—E.l. James, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Mix recounts tales of exceptional Chargers teammates, including Lance Alworth, Ernie Ladd and Jack Kemp.
—Ron Mix, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Among gravesites and crooked slabs, this medieval tapestry of bell towers, vaulted corridors, and sacred frescoes whispered tales of faith and persecution.
—Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Orion was a giant huntsman whom Zeus placed amongst the stars, securing his place in heroic tales for all time.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
Damann takes guests to the visitor center which has its own fish tales to tell.
—John Lauritsen, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tales
Noun
-
Inside the media center, rows of workstations equipped with laptops and charging points allow reporters to file stories.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Filmmakers have used the Civil War as a setting for many decades now, inspiring stories of epic military battles, romantic melodramas, and even satires, from sweeping Best Picture winners like Gone With the Wind (1939) to revisionist Westerns like Django Unchained (2012).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But is Duncan the devil who manipulates, lies and emotionally blackmails anyone in his orbit?—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stern has also published four collections of stories, four novellas, and two children’s books, all of them steeped in Jewish folklore.—
Cathleen Schine,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Brazil's federal police also said the unnamed fugitive was recently sentenced by the country's top court for the same three counts as Ramagem's conviction.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Sedrick Walker, 21, is charged with burglary, two counts of breaking and entering to commit a misdemeanor, four counts of indecent exposure, two counts of trespassing, wearing a mask in public and obstruction of justice, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a release.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The World Bank’s climate strategy, which sets a climate lending target of 45%, expires in June, but discussions on a new plan are being relegated to whispers in corridors, The Guardian reports.—
Chloé Farand,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Pressed by rival camps, pursued by the political press corps, the claims were largely confined to unvetted corners of the internet until this week, when Swalwell’s campaign — knowing the whispers were getting louder — issued a public statement denying any wrongdoing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Philo recovered to finish 18-of-24 for 166 yards and two scores.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Mariam explained that she’d been admitted to Bronx Science through a program called Discovery, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds whose test scores fell just below the school’s cutoff line.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In nonleague action, Avery Regan netted five goals and Maddie Campbell finished with two tallies and five assists as Cohasset (4-0) took down Wellesley 15-11.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Carlson, 36, scored twice on the power play on the way to his first three-goal game, anchoring an effort that also included tallies by Leo Carlsson, Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tales. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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