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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fable
Brad Pitt, 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (2020)
In Quentin Tarantino’s alt-history fable, Pitt plays a steely stunt double equally adept at fixing TV antennas or dealing with the Manson Family, all with a grin on his weathered face.
—
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Its surrealistic elements blend with realistic properties and a unique video-game-like computer animation to create something remarkable: a cautious environmental fable and a testament to the power of working together to achieve a common goal.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
The political fable, which uses anthropomorphic animals to tell a story about power and corruption, would become one of his most celebrated works.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
The bad news is that the same level of attention and care does not appear to have been extended to the story or the characters, which is lethal for something that’s supposed to be a modern-day fable.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fable
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Its surrealistic elements blend with realistic properties and a unique video-game-like computer animation to create something remarkable: a cautious environmental fable and a testament to the power of working together to achieve a common goal.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
The political fable, which uses anthropomorphic animals to tell a story about power and corruption, would become one of his most celebrated works.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
The bad news is that the same level of attention and care does not appear to have been extended to the story or the characters, which is lethal for something that’s supposed to be a modern-day fable.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
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The eerie suitors and tense courtships throughout her art are allegories for her own jinxed marriages.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Ant biology and behavior have long inspired science projects and allegories.—
Barbara Robertson,
The Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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First, there is the technology myth, the belief that older employees cannot keep pace with digital advancements.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Because Jordan only gets better and better in memory and myth.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The six-part podcast series unravels the twisted tale of Stover, his ex-wife, the heiress, and the bodyguard.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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The romance drama is billed as an original tale of two strangers and the extraordinary emotional journey that connects them.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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An outside investigation tied a Union County elected official to a controversial social media account accused of spreading lies.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Over the course of the game, hosted by the charming Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick), the cash changed hands a few times, lies were told, innocent people were voted out, and tears were shed.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Absurd parables like this one have been taken seriously by some of the loudest voices in Silicon Valley, many of whom are now warning that AI is an existential risk, more dangerous than nuclear weapons.—
Bryan Walsh,
Vox,
5 Mar. 2025
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Jameson seeks accounts of its daily life instead of parables of repression, and finds them in long novels by Günter Grass and Uwe Tellkamp.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Noun
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Deion Sanders is a former NFL legend and is trying to build up a similar legendary status in the college football game.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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Opened in 1926, The Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables is a local legend that’s famed for its storied history—it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986—distinguished guests from Judy Garland to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and elevated but laid-back experience.—
Katie Chang,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The parallels between real life and fiction were haunting.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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To receive The New Yorker’s prize-winning journalism, photography, and short films, along with podcasts, cartoons, fiction, and more, sign up for our daily newsletter.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His first-person stories include supersonic rides in seven separate aircraft pulling up to 9 Gs and flying to 84,000 feet; driving a Bugatti at 253 mph and Indy cars at 200 mph; expeditions to the North and South Poles; summiting the Matterhorn and 23,000-ft.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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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.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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