talebearer

1 of 3

noun (1)

tale·​bear·​er ˈtāl-ˌber-ər How to pronounce talebearer (audio)
Synonyms of talebearernext
: one that spreads gossip or rumors
also : tattletale
talebearing adjective or noun

talebearing

2 of 3

noun (2)

: the act or habit of spreading gossip
a reputation for talebearing

talebearing

3 of 3

adjective

How to pronounce talebearing (audio)
: given to talebearing
my talebearing neighbor

Examples of talebearer in a Sentence

Noun (1) statehouse talebearers had long spread stories about the governor's extramarital affairs the teacher told him not to be such a talebearer, as she was quite capable of detecting student misbehavior on her own

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of talebearer was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Talebearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talebearer. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

talebearer

noun
tale·​bear·​er -ˌbar-ər How to pronounce talebearer (audio)
-ˌber-
: a person who spreads gossip, scandal, or rumors
talebearing adjective or noun
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