fabulist

noun

fab·​u·​list ˈfa-byə-list How to pronounce fabulist (audio)
1
: a creator or writer of fables
2
: liar
fabulist adjective
or fabulistic

Examples of fabulist in a Sentence

a once highly admired journalist whose reputation is now that of a disgraced fabulist
Recent Examples on the Web Jimmy Kimmel appeared mighty offended about being sued by serial fabulist George Santos for alleged fraud, judging by his comedy routine on Tuesday night. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 In a memo arguing for his indefinite detention, deputies to Mr. Weiss described him as a perpetual fabulist. Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 Every inch of it is fascinating: the twists and turns of Brettler’s story, the portrait of London as a playground for conmen and fabulists, the revelations that stunned Brettler’s family after he was gone. Longreads, 9 Feb. 2024 Scott Olson/Getty Images New York Representative George Santos The House failed Wednesday night to expel serial fabulist George Santos from Congress, marking just another bump in a career plagued by scandal. Tori Otten, The New Republic, 2 Nov. 2023 Howley’s account of the national security state and the people entangled in it includes fabulists, truth tellers, combatants, whistle-blowers. The New York Times Books Staff, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023 In this telling, Santos is a caricature of American political dysfunction, a serial fabulist who sought power to assuage unfathomable internal inadequacies, and who achieved it only by accident, because the rest of us were not paying enough attention. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023 The House failed Wednesday night to expel serial fabulist George Santos from Congress, marking just another bump in a career plagued by scandal. Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 2 Nov. 2023 If my work has been influenced by fables, there is also something decidedly fabulist about a peace prize. Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fabulist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Middle French fabuliste, from Latin fābula "talk, account, fable entry 1" + French -iste -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fabulist was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near fabulist

Cite this Entry

“Fabulist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fabulist. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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