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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 folktale
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
The movie opens like an old folktale, and that tone pervades the rest of the narrative.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Her songs involve dark folktales, animal encounters, and bad uncles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
The movie opens like an old folktale, and that tone pervades the rest of the narrative.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
A lot of the folktales referenced in Rabbit Trap are drawn from this one text from 1880, called British Goblins, from an American anthropologist called Wirt Sikes, who traveled through Wales, collected stories and sightings of goblins and fairies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Her songs involve dark folktales, animal encounters, and bad uncles.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folktale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktale
Noun
-
The revelation of Izzy and Ferd’s son is sketchy; a suicide tale lacks a set-up or point; intriguing female bonds are underwritten; and all-too-familiar tropes associated with spousal violence weaken the work.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 June 2025
-
If your job has been affected, or fear automation may come next, this isn’t a cautionary tale.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
While the Beaver Nuggets and jerky wall get most of the love (and yes, the bathrooms are as spotless as legend says), chefs say the real reason to pull over is the hot bar.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
-
As local legend goes, the bridge served as an escape route for Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
15 June 2025
Noun
-
There are honestly a number of pretty good performances this season (Ivanek is consistently entertaining) but they’re all dragged down by a terrible script and a story that keeps going nowhere fast.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Her story as a young, dedicated fossil collector inspired Swiss director Marcel Barelli, whose own passion for paleontology followed him into adulthood.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
The myth had inspired many works by Old Masters, including several paintings by Titian.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
The line between the reality and the myth becomes blurred, and this confusion continues to harm women, especially those who are isolated and silenced.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
The play is nominated for five Tony Awards at this Sunday’s ceremony, including Clooney for Best Actor, and has broken weekly box office records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in history.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
The Panthers were down 1-0 early when Draisaitl scored on a rebound just 66 seconds into regulation — the seventh-fastest goal to begin a Stanley Cup Final in NHL history.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, Season 3 takes characters both new and beloved to new heights, and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy, and mystery, with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2025
-
The couple previously confirmed their romance on Romeo's Instagram Stories in November 2024, sharing glimpses into their time together.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folktale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktale. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share