Synonyms for parable
ˈpær ə bəlpara·ble

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. parable

   In modern usage we may say that an allegory is an extended simile, while a metaphor is an abbreviated simile contained often in a phrase, perhaps in a word. The simile carries its comparison on the surface, in the words as, like, or similar expressions; the metaphor is given directly without any note of comparison. The allegory, parable, or fable tells its story as if true, leaving the reader or hearer to discover its fictitious character and learn its lesson. All these are, in strict definition, fictions; but the word fiction is now applied almost exclusively to novels or romances. An allegory is a moral or religious tale, of which the moral lesson is the substance, and all descriptions and incidents but accessories, as in "The Pilgrim's Progress." A fable is generally briefer, representing animals as the speakers and actors, and commonly conveying some lesson of practical wisdom or shrewdness, as "The Fables of Æsop." A parable is exclusively moral or religious, briefer and less adorned than an allegory, with its lesson more immediately discernible, given, as it were, at a stroke. Any comparison, analogy, instance, example, tale, anecdote, or the like which serves to let in light upon a subject may be called an illustration, this word in its widest use including all the rest. Compare FICTION; STORY.

   Synonyms:
   allegory, fable, fiction, illustration, metaphor, simile

   Antonyms:
   chronicle, fact, history, narrative, record

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.7 / 3 votes

1. parable

   Synonyms:
   apologue, similitude, fable, allegory

   Antonyms:
   history, fact, narrative

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. fable, parable, allegory, apologuenoun

   a short moral story (often with animal characters)

   Synonyms:
   legend, fabrication, allegory, emblem, apologue, fiction, fable

2. parablenoun

   (New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message

   "the parable of the prodigal son"

   Synonyms:
   fable, allegory, apologue

Matched Categories

1. • New Testament
   • Story

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. parablenoun

   Synonyms:
   fable (in which what is stated as fact is probable, or which is founded on the ordinary incidents of daily life), APOLOGUE, story, NOVEL, short tale, fictitious narrative (intended to illustrate some spiritual truth)

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "parable":

   dish

How to pronounce parable?

How to say parable in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. [["1563","1"],["1581","2"],["1607","1"],["1620","1"],["1638","1"],["1643","2"],["1644","5"],["1646","3"],["1650","3"],["1652","1"],["1655","1"],["1658","2"],["1659","1"],["1660","1"],["1663","4"],["1667","1"],["1668","2"],["1672","2"],["1673","1"],["1675","3"],["1676","1"],["1677","11"],["1678","1"],["1679","1"],["1680","7"],["1683","8"],["1684","4"],["1685","1"],["1688","1"],["1689","2"],["1690","7"],["1692","1"],["1693","1"],["1696","2"],["1698","1"],["1699","2"],["1700","1"],["1701","13"],["1702","5"],["1703","4"],["1704","4"],["1705","2"],["1706","4"],["1707","4"],["1708","4"],["1709","2"],["1710","5"],["1711","1"],["1712","11"],["1713","4"],["1714","3"],["1716","18"],["1717","26"],["1718","6"],["1719","4"],["1720","14"],["1721","12"],["1722","158"],["1723","10"],["1724","4"],["1725","26"],["1726","11"],["1727","25"],["1728","24"],["1729","11"],["1730","17"],["1731","26"],["1732","47"],["1733","15"],["1734","27"],["1735","48"],["1736","55"],["1737","16"],["1738","77"],["1739","20"],["1740","7"],["1741","21"],["1742","51"],["1743","61"],["1744","44"],["1745","28"],["1746","9"],["1747","11"],["1748","106"],["1749","19"],["1750","55"],["1751","53"],["1752","34"],["1753","46"],["1754","10"],["1755","119"],["1756","34"],["1757","117"],["1758","26"],["1759","20"],["1760","20"],["1761","19"],["1762","24"],["1763","494"],["1764","185"],["1765","134"],["1766","48"],["1767","26"],["1768","62"],["1769","19"],["1770","51"],["1771","33"],["1772","62"],["1773","32"],["1774","102"],["1775","49"],["1776","103"],["1777","386"],["1778","44"],["1779","30"],["1780","111"],["1781","27"],["1782","77"],["1783","43"],["1784","26"],["1785","51"],["1786","52"],["1787","205"],["1788","120"],["1789","60"],["1790","157"],["1791","149"],["1792","223"],["1793","188"],["1794","163"],["1795","189"],["1796","145"],["1797","60"],["1798","75"],["1799","153"],["1800","285"],["1801","706"],["1802","308"],["1803","581"],["1804","518"],["1805","653"],["1806","460"],["1807","439"],["1808","634"],["1809","672"],["1810","1132"],["1811","1086"],["1812","904"],["1813","713"],["1814","438"],["1815","1525"],["1816","846"],["1817","801"],["1818","996"],["1819","450"],["1820","1120"],["1821","821"],["1822","1628"],["1823","1506"],["1824","2066"],["1825","2128"],["1826","1021"],["1827","1205"],["1828","1713"],["1829","2176"],["1830","2646"],["1831","1477"],["1832","2917"],["1833","2490"],["1834","2350"],["1835","2602"],["1836","1544"],["1837","1787"],["1838","1629"],["1839","1825"],["1840","2266"],["1841","1551"],["1842","2410"],["1843","2524"],["1844","2367"],["1845","2074"],["1846","2870"],["1847","2341"],["1848","2902"],["1849","2375"],["1850","3179"],["1851","2493"],["1852","2688"],["1853","3655"],["1854","3849"],["1855","3471"],["1856","3446"],["1857","2359"],["1858","2764"],["1859","4183"],["1860","4329"],["1861","3178"],["1862","1309"],["1863","3349"],["1864","3951"],["1865","2323"],["1866","3323"],["1867","3276"],["1868","3559"],["1869","2885"],["1870","3055"],["1871","3592"],["1872","4072"],["1873","3334"],["1874","3408"],["1875","3353"],["1876","3315"],["1877","2931"],["1878","3949"],["1879","4348"],["1880","3500"],["1881","4140"],["1882","3863"],["1883","6516"],["1884","5347"],["1885","3708"],["1886","3232"],["1887","3036"],["1888","4432"],["1889","3196"],["1890","5717"],["1891","4227"],["1892","5583"],["1893","3615"],["1894","3339"],["1895","3756"],["1896","4033"],["1897","3546"],["1898","3787"],["1899","5006"],["1900","5082"],["1901","4862"],["1902","6637"],["1903","4422"],["1904","5928"],["1905","4477"],["1906","5426"],["1907","6391"],["1908","5249"],["1909","5396"],["1910","4475"],["1911","3786"],["1912","4066"],["1913","4754"],["1914","3978"],["1915","4552"],["1916","4022"],["1917","3834"],["1918","3327"],["1919","3236"],["1920","4282"],["1921","3536"],["1922","3676"],["1923","3073"],["1924","3031"],["1925","2850"],["1926","2700"],["1927","3841"],["1928","3444"],["1929","2269"],["1930","3239"],["1931","2842"],["1932","1973"],["1933","1821"],["1934","1887"],["1935","2679"],["1936","3581"],["1937","3193"],["1938","3167"],["1939","2097"],["1940","2176"],["1941","1884"],["1942","1921"],["1943","1997"],["1944","1573"],["1945","2051"],["1946","2721"],["1947","2739"],["1948","3728"],["1949","2907"],["1950","4173"],["1951","3169"],["1952","3630"],["1953","3664"],["1954","3223"],["1955","4232"],["1956","4722"],["1957","5201"],["1958","4878"],["1959","4658"],["1960","6354"],["1961","6267"],["1962","6716"],["1963","8171"],["1964","7861"],["1965","7842"],["1966","10342"],["1967","9566"],["1968","9425"],["1969","9864"],["1970","11242"],["1971","10057"],["1972","10452"],["1973","9886"],["1974","10522"],["1975","12806"],["1976","10920"],["1977","10989"],["1978","11079"],["1979","11751"],["1980","10941"],["1981","15157"],["1982","12970"],["1983","15086"],["1984","15520"],["1985","16390"],["1986","19598"],["1987","16712"],["1988","18053"],["1989","20493"],["1990","19931"],["1991","23691"],["1992","21748"],["1993","21736"],["1994","25013"],["1995","25833"],["1996","25939"],["1997","26231"],["1998","30766"],["1999","28870"],["2000","37308"],["2001","35741"],["2002","35588"],["2003","38928"],["2004","45474"],["2005","41782"],["2006","51350"],["2007","50780"],["2008","80318"]]

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use parable in a sentence?

1. Malcom Muggeridge:

   Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.

2. John Carr:

   He is a walking, talking parable, this is a Pope who looks at the world from the bottom up and from the outside in. I think he brings to Congress and the White House a different perspective than they are used to hearing.