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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Recent Examples of fable
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.
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Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
As her children grew up, Yvonne shared stories that felt like fables.
—Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 1 July 2024
In addition to Catherine Avery’s cancer and Jo Wilson’s PTSD, the series also makes the case that the messy exit of original cast member Justin Chambers got a dose of Finch’s fables as well.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Investigating these unverifiable fables about aliens should be scrapped as a fool’s errand for AARO, which earlier this year released a historical review demolishing this long-running conspiracy theory.
—Luis Cayetano Simmari, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable 
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024
As her children grew up, Yvonne shared stories that felt like fables.
—Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 1 July 2024
In addition to Catherine Avery’s cancer and Jo Wilson’s PTSD, the series also makes the case that the messy exit of original cast member Justin Chambers got a dose of Finch’s fables as well.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Investigating these unverifiable fables about aliens should be scrapped as a fool’s errand for AARO, which earlier this year released a historical review demolishing this long-running conspiracy theory.
—Luis Cayetano Simmari, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable
Noun
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Some posted examples of popular fictional books with clear political allegories or messaging like The Lord of the Rings or The Hunger Games.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
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Original ballet depicting an allegory of the gospel through dance.Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This guide delves into some common composting myths and explains how to quickly transform citrus scraps of all sorts into a rich compost that your garden and houseplants will love.Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024
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In his book, Wald admits to the challenge of trying to parse through what happened during Dylan’s set and what has grown into myth.Brady Gerber, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Green Wave's season has been a tale of streaks.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
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But his story ultimately serves as a cautionary tale for business owners who dream big without fully grasping the importance of their foundational responsibilities.Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Afterward, Johnny and I return to Luis's guesthouse and lie side by side in gently swinging hammocks.Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024
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The magic' of this feast 'lies in its variety' The Italian American Christmas Eve tradition is believed to have originated with immigrants from southern Italy who missed the abundant seafood of the area.Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Elegant and spare, this is an environmental parable that doesn’t hammer away at its message.Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
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Some people come to listen, some to vent, some to mull the parables through fogs of addiction or mental illness.Moriah Ratner, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher has the potential to follow in the footsteps of legends.Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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The sacking of club legend and technical director Paolo Maldini a year into Cardinale’s ownership brought an end to his grace period.James Horncastle, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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On the power of seeing and being seen. … Paperback fiction 1.The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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As the first Black winner of a RITA Award for romantic fiction, Ryan has written bestselling books that showcase beautiful, multifaceted, and nuanced characters.Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The period piece explores the love story between Japanese American and Mexican American families during World War II, highlighting the solidarity between both communities.Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
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Perhaps the biggest story in sports media right now is why NBA ratings are way down this season – nearly 20% across TNT, ESPN and ABC.Alex Sherman, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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