Definition of apologuenext
as in allegory
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life the film is an apologue of sorts, but the message is couched in a zany and action-filled plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologue
Noun
  • It can be read as a direct allegory for conversion therapy and for other ways that homophobia can alter behavior and cause lasting psychological and emotional damage.
    Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
  • Hawthorne’s tale is not just an allegory of the Revolution.
    John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Apparently all mothers, even surrogate mothers, were alike, but at least Adele no longer had to fear monitory parables from her real mother.
    Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • The desire to find these kinds of positive parables was largely driven by the fact that Malone is the mother of a young boy.
    Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Explore the Wild West from the back of a rickety wagon as characters share famed fables about Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, Pecos Bill, John Henry and Hekeke.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • But the turtle/cat comment just sounds like a summary of Aesop’s absolute worst fable.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The agonizing legal circus surrounding Sumner Redstone’s final years at Paramount/Viacom is a sobering cautionary tale.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • The past few summers have seen nightmare tales from heatwaves in Europe — the continent with the fastest-rising temperatures under global warming.
    Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Apologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologue. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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