stories

Definition of storiesnext
plural of story
1
as in tales
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel he's a talented writer, but his quirky stories will never find a wide readership

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2
as in anecdotes
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa is always telling stories about what it was like growing up on a farm

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3
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6
as in plots
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the story proceeds at a pace that many readers will find a bit too leisurely

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7
as in situations
position with regard to conditions and circumstances management is trying to figure out what the story is with the accident down in the warehouse

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stories Some of the data tells stories of its own. David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026 Testimony is also likely to include emotional stories from those who were in the school that day. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026 Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. Data Skrive, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026 Generations of Coloradans will see their stories here and imagine the days when legendary Black actors and authors sought refuge in Lincoln Hills. Anna Alejo, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026 Welcome back to Sweet Tea by the AJC, a newsletter all about positive, fascinating, inspiring stories from the South. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026 The themes and stories in its films and TV shows can change popular culture and opinion, while the companies that produce those projects use their money and access to secure favorable policy from lawmakers. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026 At Dar el Hanch, the home’s current owners will welcome you for drinks and share firsthand stories of the Saint Laurent–era. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2026 This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stories
Noun
  • Join me each week for these and other tales about Des Moines' and Iowa's surprisingly colorful past.
    Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Rockrohr used both sides of this visual coin, telling of groundwork done by the late Harry Teshima to bring Black residents into the community and tales of lasting friendships and stories of insults thrown at Black students.
    Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Apple AirTag There are plenty of anecdotes about why tracking your luggage is so important, but using an Apple AirTag is a reliable way to do so.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The anecdotes have always been compelling.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Plaintiff attorneys have built similar tools capable of producing polished demand letters, medical chronologies, and settlement ranges using massive legal datasets.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
  • This requires a set of skills to interrogate the past by probing deeply, constructing and reconstructing chronologies, and contemplating counterfactuals in which different decisions might have significantly altered subsequent events.
    John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Both Will Levis and Anthony Richardson are supposedly on the trading block, and there are whispers Derek Carr might be coming out of retirement and needs to find a new team because the Saints have seemingly moved on.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Pressville is a quiet mountain town, but everything's connected through whispers.
    Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Since his return to office in 2025, this firehose of lies has only accelerated, distorting everything from economic data to constitutional law.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
  • This is a very common methodology for those that are spreading lies about the elections to find, just throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That is, the hundreds of news clippings that substantiate her plots.
    Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Abu Assi was believed to have taken part in holding deceased hostages in captivity while directing terrorist plots against IDF troops.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The sense is the Panthers would bring Rozeboom back at the right price, while trying to limit his exposure in passing situations.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Designed for sports, workouts, and outdoor activities, including extreme situations like chasing a departing plane, the glasses feature a smart camera, immersive audio, and built-in Meta AI for everyday performance.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This anthology duo features interconnected novellas by Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, and Mia Ryan.
    Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The Irish actor, 29, leads A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new Game of Thrones spinoff series based on a series of novellas by Martin, 77, that follows naïve knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stories. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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