as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son who is welcomed home
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Recent Examples of parable
In the parable of the cave, in the Republic, Plato compares human beings to cave dwellers who never see the sun, but perceive everything by shadowy firelight.
—
Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
What kind of message would prime Jeezy have presented without the pyrex parables in tow?
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2025
The wordplay is as colorful as the sonics are sedate, tag-team player parables sailing over production seeking a slippery middle ground between East and West Coast throwback jams.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The musical features a ragtag group who help Jesus tell various parables.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parable
Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
What kind of message would prime Jeezy have presented without the pyrex parables in tow?
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2025
The wordplay is as colorful as the sonics are sedate, tag-team player parables sailing over production seeking a slippery middle ground between East and West Coast throwback jams.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The musical features a ragtag group who help Jesus tell various parables.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parable
Noun
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It can be read as a direct allegory for conversion therapy and for other ways that homophobia can alter behavior and cause lasting psychological and emotional damage.—
Jen Yamato,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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Hawthorne’s tale is not just an allegory of the Revolution.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Shortly after his election loss, Cornyn posted on social media a fable about a frog and a scorpion.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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His latest, Rose of Nevada — which stars two name actors, Callum Turner and George MacKay, and opens in New York today after doing the festival rounds — has the beguiling simplicity of a fable and the captivating textures of a dream.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Noun
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One tree may have even witnessed the grisly moment told of in tall tales, which gave Hangman's Gulch its name, but sadly, the tree recently died and had to be cut down for the safety of trail users.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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China has two films in the main competition, the 2025 $215m box office hit Nobody by Shui Yu, and Tana, a contemporary tale about a young woman who leaves Shanghai to support her ailing father in Inner Mongolia.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parable. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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