fairy tale

noun

Definition of fairy talenext
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive did you really see a bear, or are you telling us another one of your fairy tales?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 fairy tale Working with the editor Hannah Buck, Lane uses their endless archive of images to craft a true-life nature fairy tale. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026 In fact, both Prince William and Prince Harry have famously done so, with impressive, modern-day fairy tale ceremonies to boot. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 Football is full of cautionary tales (and, for the sake of balance, morally-dubious fairy tales) about the risks and rewards of taking on finance adjacent to or entangled with politics. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Where real-life terrors might be decked in the glittering garb of fairy tale, and thus fooled, challenged and ultimately overcome. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fairy tale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fairy tale
  1. lie
  2. tale
  3. story
Noun
  • The airline unveiled new business-class seats for its Airbus A321XLR fleet, including lie-flat beds and privacy doors.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The film follows an 11-year-old boy who exploits his brother’s tragic death to fight his father and his community, until his lies expose the hypocrisy and corruption beneath a seemingly moral society.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lie
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
  • 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

fairylike
fairy tale
fairy tales
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fairy tale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fairy%20tale. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fairy tale

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fairy tale

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