as in tale
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works
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Recent Examples of novella
Moriarty wrote an unpublished novella to serve as the basis of 2019's Season 2, the aftermath of the murder.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Eric Magnuson’s fair gripe in The Atlantic last week pointed me to this hypnotic novella from one of our best fever dreamers.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
This means that one book can be a rom-com, the next a mystery novella, the next a steamy thriller.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
The film, based on the novella of the same name by David Vann, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for novella
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Eric Magnuson’s fair gripe in The Atlantic last week pointed me to this hypnotic novella from one of our best fever dreamers.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
This means that one book can be a rom-com, the next a mystery novella, the next a steamy thriller.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
The film, based on the novella of the same name by David Vann, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for novella
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novella
Noun
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Ammonia damaged the paper preserving ancient chronicles (letopisi) of tales that served the needs of princes and priests at the expense of those beneath them or at their throats.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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The 20-track LP serves as equal parts music and cinema in which Crockett weaves a tale of McLane as a cattle rustler on the run from the law who — eventually — gets his redemption.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza and the Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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The filmmaker ultimately sees it as a story about unconditional love.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Novella.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novella. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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