tales
word · lemma: tale
Definition
Stories, especially ones that are imaginative, traditional, or told to entertain. The word can also refer to accounts of events, sometimes suggesting exaggeration or drama.
Usage & Nuances
Common in literary or storytelling contexts: 'fairy tales', 'folk tales', 'tall tales'. 'Story' is more general; 'tale' often feels more traditional, dramatic, or stylized. In informal speech, 'tell tales' means report on someone’s behavior, often like a child tattling.
Example Sentences
My grandmother told us tales before bed.
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The book is full of old tales from the sea.
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The children laughed at his funny tales.
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He’s always telling wild tales about his college days.
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Don’t believe all the tales you hear online.
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Come on, stop telling tales and just say what happened.
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