ALLEGORY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ALLEGORY?

Need another word that means the same as “allegory”? Find 13 synonyms and 30 related words for “allegory” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Allegory” are: apologue, fable, parable, emblem, analogy, metaphor, symbol, token, sign, representation, figure, image, type

Allegory as a Noun

Definitions of "Allegory" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “allegory” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• An expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor.
• A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
• A symbol.
• A short moral story (often with animal characters.
• A visible symbol representing an abstract idea.

Synonyms of "Allegory" as a noun (13 Words)

analogy	The religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate. The syndrome is called deep dysgraphia because of its analogy to deep dyslexia.
apologue	A moral fable, especially one with animals as characters.
emblem	A visible symbol representing an abstract idea. America s national emblem the bald eagle.
fable	A story about mythical or supernatural beings or events. The unnatural monsters of fable.
figure	A combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape. He made a figure of Santa Claus.
image	(Jungian psychology) a personal facade that one presents to the world. The image of f x x 2 is the set of all non negative real numbers if the domain of the function is the set of all real numbers.
metaphor	A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else. When we speak of gene maps and gene mapping we use a cartographic metaphor.
parable	(New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message. The parable of the blind men and the elephant.
representation	A performance of a play. The sales contract contains several representations by the vendor.
sign	A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified de Saussure. Signals from the boat suddenly stopped.
symbol	Something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible. The symbol r in Figure 5 represents a gene which is ineffective.
token	Something serving as a sign of something else. The next black actor or actress selected won t know if it s because of their ability and performance or if they re just a token.
type	Metal types used in letterpress printing. The first European printing of books began in 1454 with the invention of movable type.

Usage Examples of "Allegory" as a noun

• Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey.

Associations of "Allegory" (30 Words)

adage	A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people. The old adage out of sight out of mind.
anecdotal	Characterized by or fond of telling anecdotes. An anecdotal history of jazz.
anthology	A published collection of poems or other pieces of writing. A double CD anthology of Moby Grape the legendary Sixties San Francisco band.
aphorism	A short pithy instructive saying. The opening sentence of the first aphorism of Hippocrates.
apocryphal	(of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true. His alleged description of opera as fat gits singing is probably apocryphal.
apologue	A moral fable, especially one with animals as characters.
arthurian	Of or relating to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
axiom	A statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based. The axiom that sport builds character.
bestseller	A book or other product that sells in very large numbers. Her autobiography is an international bestseller.
colloquial	Characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation. Colloquial and everyday language.
escapism	The tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy. Virtual reality offers a form of escapism.
fable	A story about mythical or supernatural beings or events. The unnatural monsters of fable.
fairy	A gay man. Fairy gold.
fanciful	Having a curiously intricate quality. A fanciful Art Nouveau bar.
fiction	Something that is invented or untrue. They were supposed to be keeping up the fiction that they were happily married.
illusory	Based on illusion; not real. Secret activities offer presidents the alluring but often illusory promise that they can achieve foreign policy goals without the bothersome debate and open decision that are staples of democracy.
legend	A caption. A screen legend.
locution	A person’s style of speech. His impeccable locution.
maxim	A saying that is widely accepted on its own merits. The maxim that actions speak louder than words.
motto	A phrase which recurs throughout a musical work and has some symbolical significance. The family motto is Faithful though Unfortunate.
mythical	Based on or told of in traditional stories; lacking factual basis or historical validity. A mythical age of contentment and social order.
narration	A commentary delivered to accompany a film, broadcast, etc. His narration was hesitant.
parable	A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. The parable of the blind men and the elephant.
potboiler	A literary composition of poor quality that was written quickly to make money (to boil the pot.
proverb	A short, well-known pithy saying, stating a general truth or piece of advice.
reportedly	According to what some say (used to express the speaker’s belief that the information given is not necessarily true. He was in El Salvador reportedly on his way to Texas.
saying	A word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations. This is stated in the sayings of the Prophet.
story	A plot or storyline. I m going to tell you a story.
tale	A message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program. An exact tale of the dead bodies.
tell	Discern or comprehend. He could tell that she was unhappy.