1
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature
according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tale
something that is the product of the imagination
the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 fable
Investigating these unverifiable fables about aliens should be scrapped as a fool’s errand for AARO, which earlier this year released a historical review demolishing this long-running conspiracy theory.
—
Luis Cayetano Simmari, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
The anthology film, which premiered earlier this year at Cannes, is made up of a trio of surreal fables rife with coercion, druggings, assaults, and self-mutilation.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
Where to watch: Max ‘Tuesday’ In the offbeat suburban fable, Death comes to a terminally ill teen (Lola Petticrew) in the form of a size-changing talking macaw.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
From paintings on ancient cave walls to parables, fables, and memes, animals have served as important storytelling tools.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable 
Luis Cayetano Simmari, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
The anthology film, which premiered earlier this year at Cannes, is made up of a trio of surreal fables rife with coercion, druggings, assaults, and self-mutilation.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
Where to watch: Max ‘Tuesday’ In the offbeat suburban fable, Death comes to a terminally ill teen (Lola Petticrew) in the form of a size-changing talking macaw.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
From paintings on ancient cave walls to parables, fables, and memes, animals have served as important storytelling tools.
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
-
But Frank Herbert’s epically imaginative sci-fi allegory wasn’t the sole source to give the character shape.Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
-
Scarpa also wrote Scott’s J. Paul Getty fictionalization All the Money in the World, Napoleon, and the military-power allegory The Last Castle, but timely political coincidences sustain this otherwise hoary tale.Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Read more What People Think Opinion related to business and economic issues submitted to The Hill: Debunking the myth of the military welfare queen You’re all caught up.Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Zucker kicked things off in the book’s foreword writing about seeing and collecting pointed diamonds from the 15th century and earlier — a point that helped Fasel to unlock a myth that engagement rings are an invention of the 20th century.Thomas Waller, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The project is heavy on woozy tales of the erotic ups and emotional downs of falling hard, and the deadpan, adrift flows of Scoob and friends, like professional skirt-chaser Shaudy Kash, are like bumping Baby Smoove and Veeze with brain fog.Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
-
But sales also told a tale of two markets, with its domestic and U.S. markets continuing to see slower sales growth, while international and especially Asia have provided new sales growth channels.Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Finally, the true beauty of digital lies in its measurability.Aman Gupta, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
-
After all the lies and posturing my neighbor gave, the FA didn’t relocate them to their seat.Ashley J. DiMella Fox News, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Some people come to listen, some to vent, some to mull the parables through fogs of addiction or mental illness.Moriah Ratner, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
-
Even absent conscious efforts to use them strategically, parables in pop culture can inform how audiences think about real-world politics—often in ways that authors don’t necessarily intend.Charli Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2019
Noun
-
The screen legend, who turns 99 Friday, recalled seeing the flames encroach a hill near his home this week.Dana Griffin, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
-
On that list, which is focused only on the top-selling titles on wax in the U.K., the latest from the legends begins its time at No. 13.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
On the power of seeing and being seen. … Paperback fiction 1.The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
-
As the first Black winner of a RITA Award for romantic fiction, Ryan has written bestselling books that showcase beautiful, multifaceted, and nuanced characters.Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
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.Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
-
Maybe even more than surprise story of the year Indiana, Arizona State looks interesting in the Playoff given its offensive weaponry.The Athletic College Football, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near fable
Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share