yarn

noun

ˈyärn How to pronounce yarn (audio)
Definition of yarnnext
1
as in tale
a brief account of something interesting that happened especially to one personally Grandpa likes to tell yarns about when he was young

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in story
a work with imaginary characters and events that is shorter and usually less complex than a novel a ripping yarn about space travel and alien monsters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 yarn During the monthly programs, yarn enthusiasts can work on their own knit, crochet or other yarn art project in a group setting, according to a press release from the district. — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 This is an uncomplicated yarn about a man prying open his heart and nudging other hard nuts to do the same. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Participating brands align around a common fiber specification and supply chain, then provide indicative volumes that can be combined to meet minimum order quantities at the fiber and yarn levels. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 The new spinning mill would make yarn in Mississippi County and ship it to Bangladesh where it would be made into bath towels. — Cristina Larue, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for yarn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yarn
  1. tale
  2. story
  3. novella
  4. narrative
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
Noun
  • Nors is the author of the story collections Wild Swims and Karate Chop; four previous novels, including Mirror, Shoulder, Signal, a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize; and two novellas, collected in So Much for That Winter.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Based on the first novella in Martha Wells’ book series, Murderbot is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients, played by Skarsgård.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of novella
Noun
  • Artemis has an obvious narrative spine because its budget has one.
    — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Many of these explanations proved wrong, yet commentators continue to reach for overly simple narratives to explain market moves.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian and Stephen Henriques, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrative

Browse Nearby Words

yardsticks
yarn
yarns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on yarn

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yarn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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