as in tales
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel
her very first short story was accepted for publication in a local journal
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Recent Examples of short stories
The first book that Viking published with Steinbeck was a collection of short stories set in California, The Long Valley, in September 1938.
—
Paul Slovak
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Students should read Tabone’s article after reading the short stories.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
The original collection of short stories was published in 1950 and centered on Earth colonizing the Red Planet in a series of devastating expeditions, and its interactions with the world's psychic native inhabitants.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The show is described as the first contemporary English language television series adaptation of Christie’s novels and short stories featuring Tommy and Tuppence.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
Essays, short stories, and poems metamorphose into works of choreography, short films, and, on several occasions now, projects that pull from both the digital world and the living environment.
—Joshua Bennett, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
But with a streamer in place this time around and an option that covers 18 novels and four short stories, Apple TV+ might just have a new franchise on its hands.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
The page should effectively and positively present the company via short stories about its values, mission, and culture by using real employee stories and testimonials.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Paul Slovak
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
These short stories about scientists working at the leading edge of climate microbiology reveal the vital role microbes play in our biosphere and climate system, and illuminate new possibilities for collaborating with these incredible natural chemists.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Students should read Tabone’s article after reading the short stories.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
The original collection of short stories was published in 1950 and centered on Earth colonizing the Red Planet in a series of devastating expeditions, and its interactions with the world's psychic native inhabitants.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The show is described as the first contemporary English language television series adaptation of Christie’s novels and short stories featuring Tommy and Tuppence.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
Essays, short stories, and poems metamorphose into works of choreography, short films, and, on several occasions now, projects that pull from both the digital world and the living environment.
—Joshua Bennett, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
But with a streamer in place this time around and an option that covers 18 novels and four short stories, Apple TV+ might just have a new franchise on its hands.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
The page should effectively and positively present the company via short stories about its values, mission, and culture by using real employee stories and testimonials.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short stories
Noun
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In Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, Andor — raised by his mother with idealized tales of his dead father — has his world turned upside down when a brutish man appears, claiming to be his true father.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
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Ledford is a songwriter to watch, spinning urgent, gripping tales of life’s ups and downs in the midst of a wildly colorful and psychedelic musical universe.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Understanding the difference between easy stories and harder truths is important for younger people who want to navigate their way through early adult life.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Those stories are important for sure.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One of the authors that Covici brought along with him to Viking was a young writer named John Steinbeck; his company had published Steinbeck’s novellas Tortilla Flat in 1935 and Of Mice and Men in 1937.—
Paul Slovak
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The four stories and three novellas within it are taken from books Lee published early in his career.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Short stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20stories. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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