as in error
a false idea or belief
the belief that going outside with wet hair will cause you to catch cold is just an old wives' tale
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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
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
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The surveys were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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The poll was conducted between March 24 and 28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 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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That would be you, the audience, fed a royal jelly concocted of dream, fantasy, myth, popcorn, even delusion.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Many of these protagonists endure the tedium and humiliation of involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, losing days and years to paralyzing inertia, and experiencing terrifying delusions of persecution and betrayal.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Yet there are filmmakers who fall prey to the illusion too.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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On far too many occasions, Watson chose deceit over candor, grasping for the illusion of business success and personal acclaim at any cost.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Old wives' tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old%20wives%27%20tale. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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