FABLE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

fable

noun

ˈfā-bəl

Definition of fable

as in allegory

a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life this classic Christmas film is essentially a fable showing how every person's life has meaning and touches the lives of others

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as in myth

a traditional but unfounded story that gives the reason for a current custom, belief, or fact of nature according to an ancient fable the waters of the mountain spring are the tears of a woman weeping for her lost children

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as in tale

something that is the product of the imagination the stories of lost cities of gold may have been fables deliberately concocted by Native Americans to dupe the Spanish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lie

a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive the fables that people tell themselves to rationalize their failures and shortcomings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fable Likewise, Schoenbrun specializes in zeitgeisty fables about 21st century isolation. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Here is the rather randy first trailer for Wicker, the comedic fable starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård and Peter Dinklage that debuted at Sundance in January. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 30 July 2026 Despite these complications, Terrace Story delivers a brilliant contemporary fable that chronicles how young people stuck in the saddest timeline can still make meaning. — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 The Little Prince is one of those books that is thought of as both a philosophical fable for children and adults. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fable

Noun

In the film, an impossible snowfall in a Ugandan village becomes a political allegory, echoing colonial intrusion.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
As with all Coppola films, the film’s allegory is rooted in a deeper sense of the history of power, capitalism, and the American experiment.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of allegory

Noun

Visitors are invited to travel across time and place to notice how societies around the world tended to weave similar, parallel myths.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
But cultural myths and urban legends have also stereotyped them into Halloween mascots, demonic beings and carriers of diseases.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of myth

Noun

Set in 1964 and based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York and befriends the suspect’s charming wife.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Like James himself, the men are clever and bookish, writing letters or diaries, reading voraciously, and imagining themselves into tales of romance and Biblical comeuppance.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of tale

Noun

The show’s noir movie aesthetics still serve its story of political ambition, where revenge is disguised as justice and greed hidden behind lofty lies of patriotism.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
The new layout on the wide-body plane features 144 premium seats, including 70 lie-flat seats with sliding doors in its Flagship Suite section at the front of the plane.

— Michele Luhn, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of lie

Noun

Mandela’s life and South Africa’s history should never be flattened into a corporate parable.

— Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
The pair’s mysterious interactions in the early chapters give way to a series of parables of doubt and belief, in which a rational character is confronted by an irrational event—and immediately convinced of its absolute truth.

— Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Definition of parable

Noun

Naturally, when a legend like Dion emerges, a huge crowd of fans will form.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
The Argentine legend completed a hat trick to stretch the lead to 5-1 in the 83rd minute, chipping a shot over the goalkeeper off an assist from Rodrigo De Paul.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of legend

Noun

Sanft argued his client’s account was pure fiction, and that investigators failed to quickly and vigorously corroborate it for a reason.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
One of the fears concerning AI in fiction filmmaking is that the medium of cinema could lose the value of the empathic connection people have with other humans.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of fiction

Noun

Like all other alumni interviewed for this story, one of the first things Oberlander mentioned about her love for Killian was athletics — football games in particular.

— Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Your stories are a great reminder of what sports teaches high school students about life.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of story

Browse Nearby Words

fab

fable

fabled

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Style

“Fable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fable. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of fable

noun

Example Sentences

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