1
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others
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2
as in myth
a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature
according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children
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3
as in tale
something that is the product of the imagination
the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish
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4
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fable
Characters in most fables do not have legs, let alone race.
—
Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Such shots reproduce García Márquez’s knack for wedding the ordinary to the extraordinary, and turning prosaic developments into enduring fables.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Love Actually director Richard Curtis admits the 'stalker scene' is 'a bit weird'
07 of 20
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
A Willy Wonka-esque inventor brings magical toys to life in this exuberant Victorian steampunk fable.
—EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
That exuberant levity has clearly been calculated as a counterweight to the subject, which is explicitly a feminist fable and could so easily have felt didactic.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable 
Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Such shots reproduce García Márquez’s knack for wedding the ordinary to the extraordinary, and turning prosaic developments into enduring fables.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Love Actually director Richard Curtis admits the 'stalker scene' is 'a bit weird'
07 of 20
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
A Willy Wonka-esque inventor brings magical toys to life in this exuberant Victorian steampunk fable.
—EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
That exuberant levity has clearly been calculated as a counterweight to the subject, which is explicitly a feminist fable and could so easily have felt didactic.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
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In the comment section for the film, on YouTube (where it has been watched by more than nine million people), someone noted the obvious allegory: a quesito without cheese; a Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans.—
Graciela Mochkofsky,
The New Yorker,
8 Jan. 2025
-
From the onset of Schauffele’s relationship with golf, motivational allegories and philosophical adages were fed into his psyche.—
Gabby Herzig,
The Athletic,
2 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
-
Not long ago, Mallaby recommended to us a few of the best books about such tales.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
8 Jan. 2025
-
What to learn from high-profile estate mistakes High-profile disputes serve as powerful cautionary tales, even for those of us outside the spotlight.—
Lawrence D. Sprung, founder/wealth advisor at Mitlin Financial, Inc.,
CNBC,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Caught in the crossfire of accusations, intern Elif (24) is drawn into a dangerous game of secrets and lies and finds herself at the heart of an all-absorbing conspiracy.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
16 Jan. 2025
-
These creators must be empowered and funded to spread the truth, counter lies, and connect with communities already inundated by falsehoods.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The old transmissibility of truth presented in holy doctrine, tradition, parables, had decayed into near silence.—
Joy Williams,
Harper's Magazine,
2 May 2024
-
Elegant and spare, this is an environmental parable that doesn’t hammer away at its message.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
4 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
As Palisades Fire Expands East Apple Brings Back iPhone 15 Pro For First Time—At Lower Price The backdrop here is NFL legend Tom Brady seemingly taking on a large role in the process after being appoved as a minority owner of the Silver and Black last year.—
Vincent Frank,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2025
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The revered producer and mixer has helmed records by such rock legends as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Roxy Music and David Bowie, often out of his home studio, Mix This!, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The film, which stars Dern, Justin Theroux, and Jeremy Irons, is another meditation on Hollywood, blurring the lines between layers of fiction and dizzyingly captured with a digital camcorder.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 Jan. 2025
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This read will especially appeal to those who have an affinity for historical fiction authors like Vanessa Riley (Island Queen, Queen of Exiles), Piper Hughley (By Her Own Design, American Daughters), and Victoria Christopher Murray (The First Ladies, The Personal Librarian).—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Other news organizations such as the New York Times and Sky News had stories incorrectly summarized.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Larry Stern Westlake Village A story worth telling What an incredible accomplishment by the Rams, Cardinals, Vikings, and NFL in relocating the Rams-Vikings game from SoFi to Arizona on such short notice.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fable
Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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