folktale

as in tale
a traditional description of imaginary events circulated orally among a people West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling

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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 folktale The movie opens like an old folktale, and that tone pervades the rest of the narrative. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025 A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies. Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025 Her songs involve dark folktales, animal encounters, and bad uncles. Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025 Kingston’s book, a radical scrambling of folktale, myth, and autobiography, is largely fiction but was initially received as a straightforward memoir—exactly the kind of stereotypical immigrant story Kingston had tried to avoid. Jane Hu, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for folktale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktale
Noun
  • Guns, knives, swords, cleavers, axes, ice picks and flamethrowers will all be put to use in this tale of a revenge.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
  • For all that this season marks a new epoch in the tale of booming UEFA prize money, cash will be far from the thoughts of Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday evening in Munich.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • The Axeman remains one of New Orleans’ most enduring legends, inspiring books, jazz ballads and even an appearance in American Horror Story, the FX series.
    Christina Coulter, People.com, 4 June 2025
  • And the troubadour legend, who haunted those same Village clubs during that same time, was…a bit underwhelmed.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 31 May 2025
  • This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • There are several myths that certain foods are bad for thyroid function, including gluten and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower).
    Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 27 May 2025
  • Historically, fonio carries deep reverence and myth.
    Osayi Endolyn, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Only 11 horses in history have managed to win both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, but not the Preakness Stakes, in the same year.
    Wire Reports, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
  • Trump’s ability to flip a switch and ease the all-consuming pressure on the global economy, at least somewhat, is probably the most blunt and effective tool in modern history to reverse any sentiment doom spiral.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • During their romance, LuPone and Kline worked together on the 1975 Broadway musical The Robber Bridegroom.
    Sharareh Drury, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • The popularity of TikTok means that scams are rife, with fake giveaways, fake celebrity and influencer accounts, romance scams and more.
    Emma Woollacott, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktale. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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