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.

Sooner or later we must stop believing in fairy tales and repeated broken promises, and embrace reality again.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Similarly, young people on social media are drawn to tales of demon possession, even if they might not align with the politics of the people who are making this stuff up.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

These are not cautionary tales about individual failure.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

It may be time to stop believing in fairy tales.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

She thought of the dreaded figure of Mr. Alpo, from the Giddy-Yap, Rainbow! tales, who disposed of unwanted ponies by taking them to the slaughterhouse.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood