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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Recent Examples of folktale
Aladdin, a character from a Middle Eastern folktale, stumbles on an oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, larger-than-life genie who grants him three wishes.
—
Sonal Jain, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Look at rumors, gossip, metaphors, euphemisms, folktales—all the means by which subordinate groups disguise their opposition.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Everyone in the studio nods along to Paco’s tough-minded flexes and mafioso folktales.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Interspersed in the narrative, there are South Asian folktales about a jackal who is punished for pretending to be a king and a foolish man who puts all his eggs in a basket.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Sonal Jain, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Look at rumors, gossip, metaphors, euphemisms, folktales—all the means by which subordinate groups disguise their opposition.
—Nikil Saval, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Everyone in the studio nods along to Paco’s tough-minded flexes and mafioso folktales.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Interspersed in the narrative, there are South Asian folktales about a jackal who is punished for pretending to be a king and a foolish man who puts all his eggs in a basket.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktale
Noun
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Sula by Toni Morrison Toni Morrison’s suite of stunning historical novels includes Beloved, A Mercy, and this 1973 tale of a friendship between Sula Peace and Nel Wright.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
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Both Van Poppel and Taylor, who injured his shoulder in a bar fight in 1993 and never reached the major leagues, are cautionary tales on the dangers of taking a high school pitcher in the first round.—
Melissa Lockard,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Noun
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From the rise of the Von Erich family in the 1950s to legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Dusty Rhodes and Shawn Michaels.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
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After teasing a trek earlier this week, Paul McCartney has revealed that his Got Back Tour will return to North America this fall, the Beatles legend’s first tour stateside in four years.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
5 July 2025
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Douglas also shared some stories from Cuckoo’s Nest, including ones about Nicholson.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Reason 2: The Obsession with Control The second myth plaguing modern business is the assumption that complex systems can be controlled through tighter management processes.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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In my own writing, the process of myth making fascinates me.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Last weekend’s 4-3 loss to the Houston Dynamo at Snapdragon Stadium may go down as the first gut-punch in franchise history.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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With the spotlight fixed on MSG and history already being made by the very nature of the event, everyone who steps through the ropes should be looking to make a statement.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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His middle name is shared with the son and heir of Parzival, the knight of the Holy Grail in German Arthurian romance.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Written and created by Girls autour Dunham, the show is loosely based on her own romance with husband and series co-creator, Luis Felber.—
Katie Mannion,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktale. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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