Thesaurus results for PARABLE

parable

noun

ˈper-ə-bəl

Definition of parable

as in allegory

a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son who is welcomed home

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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 parable 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 On Sundays, O’Neal’s father preached hope from the pulpit, stories of his family intertwined with morals and truths and parables. — Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 On Sunday, O’Neal’s father preached hope from the pulpit, stories of his family intertwined with morals and truths and parables. — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parable

Noun

In the film, an impossible snowfall in a Ugandan village becomes a political allegory, echoing colonial intrusion.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
As with all Coppola films, the film’s allegory is rooted in a deeper sense of the history of power, capitalism, and the American experiment.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of allegory

Noun

Even the 2025 Tigers, the team that staved off a monumental late-season collapse, lives on as a fable highlighting the importance of playing the whole schedule.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Remember, in Aesop’s fable about the hare and the tortoise, slow and steady won the race.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of fable

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

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“Parable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of parable

noun

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