Synonyms for

Tales

Verb / teɪlz / Another word for tales — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Tales are stories about imaginary events or people.

Synonyms & similar words

tale taradiddle story narration tarradiddle fib narrative stories fables legends myths yarns narratives anecdotes folklore sagas chronicles accounts recollections memoirs adventures episodes taletelling lore traditions mythology

Synonyms by register

Formal

narratives recitations chronicles

Informal

stories yarns fables

Literary

epics legends sagas

Antonyms

facts truths realities histories accounts reports

Common collocations

  • fairy tales
  • ghost tales
  • folk tales
  • short tales
  • ancient tales
  • bedtime tales
  • captivating tales

Word family

noun tale
adjective taleful

Usage note

While 'tales' can refer to factual accounts, it often implies fictional or embellished stories. It is less common in formal academic writing than 'narratives' or 'accounts'.

Example sentences

  1. I love reading tales about dragons and princesses.
  2. My dad told me a tale about a magical tree.
  3. The book is full of tales from different cultures.
  4. The storyteller entertained us with tales of brave warriors.
  5. My favorite tale is the one about the three little pigs.

Quotes

  • A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest. - C.S. Lewis
  • Stories are a communal currency of humanity. - Tahir Shah
  • The shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story. - Anthony De Mello

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