short story

Definition of short storynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 short story Brian Duffield wrote the initial screenplay based off the short story by Phillip Fracassi, with revisions by Mollner. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 7 July 2026 Anyone can use a GenAI tool to create, and then profit from, a short story in the style of Margaret Atwood or a cartoon in the style of Sarah Andersen. Zoey Forbes, The Dial, 7 July 2026 Daily Fiction By Mac Crane The following is from Mac Crane's debut short story collection, Perverts. Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 My first videoplay was Remembering Toba Tek Singh, 1999, inspired by a short story on the 1947 partition of the subcontinent by Sa’adat Hassan Manto. Zehra Jumabhoy, Artforum, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for short story
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short story
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
Noun
  • This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 July 2026
  • Gil was trapped beneath more than 100 tons of rubble after the partial collapse of the Galerias Playa Grande commercial center, which includes buildings nine and four stories tall.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • The whole gang is back, ready to play their parts in this never-ending novella.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Based on a Stephen King novella, the period prison drama became a cult favorite thanks to video rentals and cable reruns.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The against-all-odds survival narrative stunned even veteran first responders.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Warren Buffett maintains his faith in America's resilience and innovation, while Elon Musk highlights technology's role in shaping national narratives.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short story.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short%20story. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on short story

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster