How to Use telling in a Sentence

telling

adjective

• The most telling moment in the case was when the victim took the stand.
• Her experience is a telling example of why the nation's educational system needs to be changed.
• The timing could not be more telling.
  — Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
• And the next three to four months could be just as telling as the last.
  — Allie Morris, Dallas News, 5 July 2020
• The emotions evoked by the dream can be very telling.
  — Stacey Colino, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
• To come out and say this about Rodgers is very telling.
  — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
• And perhaps there lies the most telling tragedy of all.
  — Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
• But perhaps the most telling race was the one least in doubt.
  — Ben Jacobs, The New Republic, 28 June 2022
• The most telling stat may have been farther down the box score.
  — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2024
• Her blood has pooled on her back and the backs of her legs, dark and telling.
  — Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2020
• Maybe an even more telling comment came from one of those who lost.
  — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2023
• The next couple of years are going to be very telling.
  — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
• The last line is probably the most telling part of that quote.
  — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
• The most telling stat that Thomas’ mind may have been elsewhere?
  — Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times, 1 May 2017
• How the Ducks choose to go about that today will be more telling.
  — oregonlive, 2 Oct. 2021
• But a much smaller venture might be more telling of things to come.
  — al, 5 Aug. 2020
• Even more telling was the difference in points scored in the paint.
  — oregonlive, 2 Dec. 2021
• Other body language may be more telling.
  — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
• There’s nothing more telling than the contents of a cook’s pantry.
  — Adina Steiman, WSJ, 4 May 2022
• Here’s a song-by-song guide to the most telling lyrics in each of the 12 songs.
  — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
• Chloe, which might have been the most telling sign of her un-importance.
  — Sarah Rense, Esquire, 3 Apr. 2017
• How the fuel and metals prices move over the next few weeks may be even more telling.
  — John Navin, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2021
• But in terms of the system, the second goal was the most telling move of the first half.
  — Michael Cox, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
• The size of that crowd and its enthusiasm were very telling.
  — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 15 May 2026
• Perhaps the most telling trend is the return of whimsy.
  — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
• Devin pointed out a telling scene from the twelfth episode of the season that might give you a hint.
  — Noelle Devoe, Seventeen, 19 Apr. 2017
• There are the most brilliant minds in the world getting drunk and telling stories.
  — Clarkisha Kent, EW.com, 27 Aug. 2019
• That is the most telling direction of their future.
  — Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
• This will be a very telling game in terms of how good the Steelers secondary is.
  — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2021
• What’s the most telling thing about the Hot 100’s current top tier?
  — Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 10 Jan. 2023