1
as in story
a rumor or report of a personal or sensational nature
don't believe the tales you hear about our neighbor's kid
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2
as in anecdote
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally
asked Dad to tell once again the tale of how, as a kid, he broke his arm jumping out of a tree
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3
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
told tall tales in an attempt to impress me with her supposedly upper-crust background
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in novella
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
the oft-told tale of Sleeping Beauty
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tale
Related Stories As Dickens goes over each of Jesus’ miracles and other pivotal moments ahead of his gruesome death, young Walter walks into the biblical passages as an unseen figure watching from the sidelines and becoming enraptured by the tall tales.
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Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
There have been multiple adaptations made of Pride and Prejudice, a beloved 200-year-old tale, throughout the years.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
As the infamous tale from the early 2000s goes, the rookie was being punked — badly.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for tale
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
There have been multiple adaptations made of Pride and Prejudice, a beloved 200-year-old tale, throughout the years.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
As the infamous tale from the early 2000s goes, the rookie was being punked — badly.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tale
Noun
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Source: National Interagency Fire Center This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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In the search for the specific medical condition that will serve the dramatic needs, that well of story options is deep.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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An adaptation of the Max Porter novella Grief Is the Thing With Feathers, the drama revolves around a widower (Cumberbatch) who is left to raise two young sons after the unexpected death of his wife.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
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Crime 101 is directed by Bart Layton, and adapted from a novella by Don Winslow.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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More than 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza have so far been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive, according to the health ministry there, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count but says more than half of the dead are women and children.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count, but says more than half of the dead have been women and children.—
Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Some people are forthright when Boulet asks, with a cameraman in tow, a question that is often not spoken, or at most in a locker-room whisper.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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In truth, whispers have been circulating for months that a The Row homewares line might be in the works.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Tortoise And The Hare Anyone familiar with the famous Aesop fable knows that the tortoise uses smarts and diligence to beat the hare.—
Gerry Spitzer,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Based on the fable of Pegasus, the seven-part work is told through dance, music, puppetry and cinema.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And for a Knicks team walking into its first-round playoff series with a 1-3 record against the Detroit Pistons, Brunson’s dominance undermines the final tally.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2025
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The latest tally showed Lee moving ahead of her primary challenger in the race, former City Councilmember Loren Taylor, with 53% percent of the vote compared to Taylor’s 47%.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The score that stopped me in my tracks, however − and sent me into mild panic − was my UV damage result.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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Later, Long threw a wild pitch that allowed another run to score.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tale. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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