as in tale
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 story
He was inspired by short stories by Liu Yichang.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2026
The Foundation does this through a number of programs, including a writer-in-residence program, a short story contest, and the two high school writing competitions.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Make your own greeting card at On Paper or drop 50 cents in a gumball machine for a short story from Prologue Bookshop.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 13 May 2026
In 1944, Warren had published this story—that is, the story of Mastern’s life and Burden’s inability to write about it—as a short story in Partisan Review.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for short story
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2026
The Foundation does this through a number of programs, including a writer-in-residence program, a short story contest, and the two high school writing competitions.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Make your own greeting card at On Paper or drop 50 cents in a gumball machine for a short story from Prologue Bookshop.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 13 May 2026
In 1944, Warren had published this story—that is, the story of Mastern’s life and Burden’s inability to write about it—as a short story in Partisan Review.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
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Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
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Eggs, sushi, and crypto The account paid attention to smaller stories, too.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Can wrote her first novella, Yellow Mud Street (1987), at her sewing machine in between taking care of customers.—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
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Kent has also written the screenplay which is adapted from a 1973 science fiction novella by American writer James Tiptree, Jr (real name Alice B Sheldon).—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The newest data fits a trend, alongside news that Chicago once again has the country’s busiest airfield and is a top tourist destination, disproving the narrative that the city is shrinking, said Erin Connelly, communication director for Mayor Brandon Johnson.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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That failure is as much a problem of form as of substance, because to break out of the apolitical bubble of personalities is also to break out of the iridescent bubble of elegant narrative.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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