fable

noun

ˈfā-bəl How to pronounce fable (audio)
Definition of fablenext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fable The Holbrook sisters are undersocialized and inexperienced with the world, and Herzog sees them as figures out of a fable, dreamers who talk incessantly about love and seem connected to the elemental and the ancient. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 Abstract Deer Deer are the center of countless fairytales, fables, and general folklore. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026 Sullivan’s Anne first aired on PBS the very same night, for instance, that the erotic multicultural dance fable Flashdance was first shown on network TV. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 Even the 2025 Tigers, the team that staved off a monumental late-season collapse, lives on as a fable highlighting the importance of playing the whole schedule. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
  1. allegory
  2. myth
  3. tale
  4. lie
  5. parable
  6. legend
  7. fiction
  8. story
Noun
  • Mungiu may have a less sadistic streak and a more active camera, but the two filmmakers share a particular commitment to narrative indeterminacy, devising intricate yet incomplete crime-story plots that function broadly as sociopolitical allegories.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In East of Eden, Pugh delivers yet another knock out performance as Cathy Ames, the distant mother and madam at the center of Steinbeck’s multigenerational family saga and biblical allegory.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of allegory
Noun
  • Best Bedroom Furniture Deals Yes, high-quality, affordable bedroom furniture is not a myth.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Nalla Roberts has been fascinated with tales like this for years, growing obsessed with Greek myths in her childhood.
    — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of myth
Noun
  • The drama mixes battlefield action with a tale of conflicted allegiances and the dangers of undercover work in hostile territory.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Flanagan is the prolific horror writer-director who has tackled several Stephen King tales (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, Carrie) and delivered several limited series hits for Netflix (Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • Recounting the disappearance of his sister Jade 20 years earlier, this text threatens to expose the lies, secrets and rifts within a group of friends bound forever by tragic events.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • On the lower level lie the Oceanfront Balcony and Premium Oceanfront Balcony rooms, with the same factors distinguishing Premium from not.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of lie
Noun
  • There’s a reason why political stories are often chosen as parables for moral compromise.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As nightmare thought experiments shape the fight over how to govern a multitrillion-dollar industry, some experts say the parables may lead decision-makers astray.
    — Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of parable
Noun
  • Its roots in Southern music run deep and broad; big band leader Erskine Hawkins, composer and musician Sun Ra, country legend Emmylou Harris, and trap pioneer Gucci Mane were born here.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Americana musician Brandi Carlile just wrapped a three-night stint at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and fans who attended the Saturday show got a special surprise when she was joined by ‘90s rock legend Alanis Morissette.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of legend
Noun
  • Films today tend to err on the side of length in a way that can feel like fiction being distended.
    — Elissa Suh, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Since then, she’s produced and/or directed numerous fiction releases, as well as memoirs by the likes of Diane Keaton and Prince Harry.
    — Brian Raftery, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fiction
Noun
  • While the episodic stories reflect the never-ending parade of tourists and partygoers, the show also provides Dennis and Rosa with long-term arcs.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Suffice it to say the mystery bullets that landed in Rate Field’s bleachers in 2023 and wounded two women definitely aren’t relevant to this feel-good story but are worth mentioning to remind us how much the Sox narrative has changed.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of story

Browse Nearby Words

fab
fable
fabled
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Cite this Entry

“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fable

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fable

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