as in parables
a story intended to teach a basic truth or moral about life
Dr. Seuss's story "The Sneetches" is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences
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Recent Examples of allegories
But if these movies are progressive allegories of beings transcending their differences, then Hoppers is a surprisingly blunt pushback to that notion.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Chandran’s reference to allegories suggests the adaptation is leaning into the arc’s political dimensions — the civil war, the manipulation of a nation by a Warlord of the Sea, and the cost of leadership.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
These are tales of misplacement and metamorphosis — humans as beasts, beasts as allegories.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Part of a long tradition of both David and Goliath adaptations and illustrated renditions of Judeo-Christian allegories, the new musical drama is Angel Studio’s latest take on the iconic underdog story and a wholesome way to spend your afternoon.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
But there’s an awkwardness in the sequel that feels like the inevitable outcome of these movies stretching their allegories to their limits.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
The Terror from Beyond Space served up slimy green men and Red Scare allegories, the period covered by Baron abounds with optimism and wonder.
—David Kamp, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Chandran’s reference to allegories suggests the adaptation is leaning into the arc’s political dimensions — the civil war, the manipulation of a nation by a Warlord of the Sea, and the cost of leadership.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
These are tales of misplacement and metamorphosis — humans as beasts, beasts as allegories.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
His canvases are populated by allegories.
—Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Part of a long tradition of both David and Goliath adaptations and illustrated renditions of Judeo-Christian allegories, the new musical drama is Angel Studio’s latest take on the iconic underdog story and a wholesome way to spend your afternoon.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
But there’s an awkwardness in the sequel that feels like the inevitable outcome of these movies stretching their allegories to their limits.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
The Terror from Beyond Space served up slimy green men and Red Scare allegories, the period covered by Baron abounds with optimism and wonder.
—David Kamp, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allegories
Noun
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Jesus, who speaks in parables, not in dicta or dogmas, provides us with a primary instance of the power of the nonliteral tale.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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On Sundays, O’Neal’s father preached hope from the pulpit, stories of his family intertwined with morals and truths and parables.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That Niall finds Ruben so alluring is natural to Gadd, who believes the notion of a valiant male figure has been bred into everyone via fables and fairy tales.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Fortnum & Mason does not need a goose from Aesop’s fables to have a golden egg.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Co-founded by Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, the museum will rotate the famous filmmaker’s vast collection of narrative art, which contains objects not found in more traditional museums, including manga, comics and children’s tales.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The lobby is where the elderly owner scares children with tales of a witch who once haunted these grounds.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Allegories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allegories. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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