old wives' tale

Example 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 old wives' tale An old wives' tale says heartburn during pregnancy means your unborn baby has a full head of hair, but many parents with bald babies would strongly disagree. Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024 That's why there's no shortage of old wives' tales surrounding the induction of labor—and no end to parents-to-be looking for signs that their little one will arrive soon. Melissa Mills, Parents, 19 Dec. 2023 The idea that breast milk is a cure-all might seem like an old wives' tale, but there's scientific research behind the results Williams is seeing: fresh breast milk has been proven to help with atopic eczema, diaper rash, and a collection of other maladies. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023 For centuries, women have relied on this old wives' tale to get shiny, irresistibly touchable hair. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 17 June 2013 According to old wives' tales, these pregnancy symptoms may suggest your baby will be assigned male at birth. Christin Perry, Parents, 25 July 2023 Well, the Germans like a touch of oversteer, and that's no old wives' tale. Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 15 Mar. 2023 An old wives' tale that keeping raw, unpeeled onions out will keep your family safe from illnesses such as the flu is making the rounds on Facebook. Katie Landeck, USA TODAY, 16 June 2020 The myth, which is partly based on an old wives' tale that claims that every year on the vernal and autumnal equinox, eggs are able to balance on their ends, appears to have surfaced annually since at least 2012. NBC News, 11 Feb. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old wives' tale
Noun
  • The German hit 12 unforced errors in the set as too many of his forehands skewed off his racket at the wrong angle and out of the court.
    Issy Ronald, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Keys broke three times in the first set, helped in part by Sabalenka’s four double-faults and 13 total unforced errors.
    Howard Fendrich, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Comprised of interviews with landlords, homeowners, real estate investors, and city officials, this book dispels the myths around the narratives that paint these Detroit homeowners as irresponsible.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
  • While this myth has been debunked by experts, professionals still advise against going to bed without drying your hair for a plethora of reasons.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In a moment of delusion, Simon cooks up a scheme to get Wei-Tung married and secure their friend Wei-Wei a green card.
    Sadie Collins, Them, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Researchers noted the positive effects of ecstatic epilepsy and synthesized fifty-three theoretical models of delusion.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This ‘80s silhouette, which cinches at the waist but leaves volume across the shoulders and flares at the hip, creates the illusion of an exaggerated hourglass figure, immediately adding shape back into Jenner’s otherwise loose-fitting ensemble.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2025
  • This lack of day-to-day oversight allows Starfleet to preserve the illusion of plausible deniability.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near old wives' tale

Cite this Entry

“Old wives' tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tale. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!