stories

Definition of storiesnext
plural of story
1
as in tales
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership

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2
as in anecdotes
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm

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3
4
5
6
as in plots
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely

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7
as in situations
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

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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 stories For more than four decades, the Korean immigrant has worked at the shop near Travis Air Force Base, hearing countless stories of loss, sacrifice and heartbreak from military families and service members. Kenny Choi, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 Paxton told stories about running for office for the first time and his 2023 impeachment. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026 After visiting the museum, contemporary ceramicists working in the area created new pieces inspired by the forms and stories of these ancient works. Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026 Dozens of people shared their stories with CNN, and each had their own unique experience, ranging from profound and life-changing to scary and disappointing. Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026 His live show, which hits City Winery on Monday, has a bit of everything — songs, comedy and career stories. Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Read More TopicsVogue PartiesVintage Get the latest fashion stories, style, and tips, handpicked for you, everyday. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2026 Neither requires action because the endings to their stories have already been written. Charlie Tyrell, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026 In the time since, the two TV newsrooms began sharing local content, with reporters’ stories appearing on both stations. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stories
Noun
  • Wessels catches gleams to follow not only in magical tales but in twinkling memories, sparkling wordplay, the films of silver-screen star Veronica Lake, and his charm of a daughter, the inspiration of a half-dozen poems that take their titles from spells.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Other folk tales trace them back to Noah's ark.
    Emily Feng, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Tobacco industry jobs in future Cuba Conversations at the home of plastic surgeon Jorge Suárez Menéndez, the night’s host, continued amid anecdotes of how many of the families’ businesses were founded by immigrants, both in Cuba and the United States.
    Sarah Moreno Updated April 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The comments section quickly became a communal storytelling space, with viewers swapping anecdotes about pets who seemed to recognize languages, accents, or phrases from earlier homes.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Plaintiff attorneys have built similar tools capable of producing polished demand letters, medical chronologies, and settlement ranges using massive legal datasets.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The Southern Sinagua people, hardy folk who lived in the area from about 1150 to around 1400, drew them to mark major happenings in their world, keep chronologies of celestial events or map out favorite Verde River hotspots.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Behind every trauma and calamity, whether personal or global, whispers of Jewish machination can be heard by those already listening for them.
    Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In this extraordinary moment, we're reminded that wisdom often comes in the smallest whispers, and true courage lies in following where we're led with childlike trust.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Just as lies were used to justify our attack on Iraq over 20 years ago.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Below, according to a San Francisco Chronicle video, in bold white letters on the sand, demonstrators displayed another message saying no to ICE, wars, lies and kings.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • From large commercial operations to small-scale organic plots, farmers across Illinois and the country are trying to weather the sharp spike in agricultural costs driven by a conflict thousands of miles from their fields.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • And his writing evolved along with the series, as the characters grew more morally complex, and the plots became more intricate and convoluted.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • That’s because many federal immigration laws are built around the presumption of birthright citizenship and don’t address situations like that, though the laws could change.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stories. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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