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
Madison will reportedly portray twin sisters in a world where a mad prince (Prince Prospero in the original 1842 short story) welcomes wealthy elites into his castle as plague spreads across the land.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 June 2025
The novel starts with the original short story but then flashes back to the younger days of the parents, describing Serk’s World War II-era childhood as a Korean in Japan and Anne’s rootless life in America.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 2 June 2025
To celebrate, for the third year in a row, the Literary Hub staff will be recommending a single short story, free* to read online, every (work) day of the month.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 30 May 2025
One reason is his mastery of crescendo, especially in his short stories.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for short story
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 June 2025
The novel starts with the original short story but then flashes back to the younger days of the parents, describing Serk’s World War II-era childhood as a Korean in Japan and Anne’s rootless life in America.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 2 June 2025
To celebrate, for the third year in a row, the Literary Hub staff will be recommending a single short story, free* to read online, every (work) day of the month.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 30 May 2025
One reason is his mastery of crescendo, especially in his short stories.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
Noun
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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
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Ratnam, working from a story by Haasan, sets up a familiar but resonant tale of father and son.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Release date: Friday, June 20 Cast: Guy Pearce, Cosmo Jarvis, Vincent Miller, Toby Wallace Director-screenwriter: Charles Williams 1 hour 43 minutes Inside is not the usual story of damnation or redemption, of the unbreakable cycles of crime or even the virtues of rehabilitation, like Sing Sing.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
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Suffering through bad relationships to finally find the ideal romantic partner is a universal story that’s understood by men and women of every age, and of every generation.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
10 June 2025
Noun
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The film is adapted from a novella written by Stephen King.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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The first novella couldn’t be stretched quite that far, so the story required some expansion.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The shifting narratives reflect the anxiety of Angelenos amid ICE raids targeting immigrants at Home Depots, churches and retail centers.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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Their story goes together: two women who are both totally powerless and, at the same time, lie at the crux of the narrative—and the intertwining of their stories stays that way for much of their literary afterlife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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