folktales

noun

plural of folktale
as in tales
a traditional description of imaginary events circulated orally among a people West African folktales that continue to be passed from generation to generation through storytelling

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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 folktales This vast misshapen island was traditionally noted for ghosts, folktales, eccentricity, fish, and friendliness. — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026 In Mexico, Yamel’s mother tells scary folktales to caution her against real-life dangers. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Almost all folktales are lessons about family, about roles and belonging. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 The body horror of birth gives way to the fairy-tale horror of early motherhood, which McBride, a translator based in Barcelona, strews with literary Easter eggs from folktales and Victorian poetry. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Disney made its name on the back of fairy and folktales, retelling centuries-old stories and giving them a fresh new spin for modern audiences. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 Irving may have been influenced by German folktales about a man who slept for 20 years, or European stories of terrifying headless riders, but these stories were set in rural New York state, with a distinctly American voice and references. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 From causing supernatural events to creating hysteria, our orbiting nightlight has always had legends and folktales written about it. — Taylor Grothe, Parents, 28 June 2026 Traditionally played on string instruments like the dulcimer, fiddle, and banjo, this distinctly twangy genre passed down religious hymns, ballads, and folktales through generations. — Hillary Richard, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folktales
  1. tales
  2. legends
  3. stories
  4. myths
  5. narratives
  6. histories
  7. romances
Noun
  • The story gains a sense of momentum and inevitability as these disconnected tales suddenly become part of a continuous thread.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And in 2017, historian Alberto (Carlos González) struggles to figure out how the two preceding tales intersect, stumped until an academic (Glenn Close in a brief, striking cameo) steps in to help.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of tales
Noun
  • When Atlanta rap legends Outkast sued a rising California rapper-producer over his stage name last month, fellow West Coast emcee Vince Staples had a three-word response.
    — DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • From the settings of spooky flicks and gothic literary legends to places that take their pumpkin patches and seasonal decor quite seriously, these eight spots prove that Halloween is so much more than a single night.
    — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of legends
Noun
  • People love spy stories, but there is nothing amusing, or romantic, about this one.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Long initially envisioned the event as an art exhibition, with the cars as the artwork and their owners’ stories providing the human connection.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stories
Noun
  • Ancient myths and modern cinema depict bogs as sinister locales, dangerous to cross, and fatal to get trapped in.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But in earlier myths, Al Basty was described as a hearth deity and a protector of women in childbirth.
    — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of myths
Noun
  • Our save-the-planet narratives are becoming increasingly far-fetched.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Then there’s a clearing of throats, and like malware, the narratives begin to establish persistence over mood and multiply.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of narratives
Noun
  • Try to choose sellers with long histories of satisfied customers, and make sure the online bid amount is listed in American dollars.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Their work reflected different histories, institutions and resources.
    — Lauren Footman, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of histories
Noun
  • The elder sisters’ romances with good (George MacKay as Edward Ferrars) and bad men (Frank Dillane as John Willoughby).
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Composed of 160 photographs taken across the past seven decades by 118 photographers, the show suggests the jobs, romances, family life, and lazy afternoons that could have been his.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of romances

Browse Nearby Words

folktale
folktales
follies
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Cite this Entry

“Folktales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folktales. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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