Definitions

tales

[teylz, tey-leez] / teɪlz, ˈteɪ liz /

NOUN

story

Synonyms

STRONGEST

account anecdote fable fiction legend myth narrative novel short story yarn

STRONG

narration relation report romance saga

WEAK

fairy tale folk tale

Antonyms

STRONGEST

non-fiction truth

NOUN

made-up story

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fiction rumor yarn

STRONG

canard chestnut clothesline defamation detraction exaggeration fabrication falsehood falsity fib lie misrepresentation prevarication rigmarole scandal slander spiel untruth

WEAK

cock-and-bull story tall story untruism

Antonyms

STRONGEST

truth

STRONG

honesty praise

WEAK

non-fiction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And you thought spiteful stepmothers wreaked havoc only in fairy tales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Send your tales from the trek to [email protected].

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

The reality is, alongside our favorite tales from the Mother Road, darker moments in history also echo throughout the 2,448-mile stretch.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The $12 billion fund is one of the largest publicly traded business development companies, and its credit stumbles have become one of the sector’s cautionary tales.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

There’s artwork on the wall, done by the kids; posters with tiny kittens “hanging in there”; and a small bookcase with an impressive collection of fables and fairy tales.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold