allegories

noun

plural of allegory
as in parables
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life Dr. Seuss's story "The Sneetches" is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences

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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 allegories There are allegories that can be read about fear of the unknown breeding cruelty and exploitation, but Disclosure Day is first and foremost a propulsive yarn with thematic roots in hope, truth, empathy and perhaps even spirituality. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 Sci-fi stories about alien invasions have often functioned as political allegories for anxieties around empire and immigration, Lechuga says. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 June 2026 But if these movies are progressive allegories of beings transcending their differences, then Hoppers is a surprisingly blunt pushback to that notion. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Chandran’s reference to allegories suggests the adaptation is leaning into the arc’s political dimensions — the civil war, the manipulation of a nation by a Warlord of the Sea, and the cost of leadership. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 These are tales of misplacement and metamorphosis — humans as beasts, beasts as allegories. — Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026 His canvases are populated by allegories. — Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026 In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age. — James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 Part of a long tradition of both David and Goliath adaptations and illustrated renditions of Judeo-Christian allegories, the new musical drama is Angel Studio’s latest take on the iconic underdog story and a wholesome way to spend your afternoon. — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allegories
  1. parables
  2. fables
  3. tales
Noun
  • 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
  • Jesus taught his followers by his remarkable example, including innumerable healings, as well as through his sermons and parables.
    — Eric Bashor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026
Definition of parables
Noun
  • Likewise, Schoenbrun specializes in zeitgeisty fables about 21st century isolation.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • 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.
    — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of fables
Noun
  • In forums on Reddit, women share tales of having perimenopause and menopause symptoms misdiagnosed or dismissed as mental health disorders, early-onset dementia, or autoimmune issues, resulting in months or years of unnecessary testing.
    — Yulin Hswen, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Vedder’s elliptical tales of adolescent trauma were a perfect fit with music that blended classic-rock tropes (especially McCready’s solos) with punk energy, grunge guitar tones and the groove-heavy vibe of early-Nineties alt-rock.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tales

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Cite this Entry

“Allegories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allegories. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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