as in convincing
having the power to persuade
presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in describing
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
they told the story of how they had met
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
just tell us what is in your heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in counting
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added
who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in informing
to give information to
tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
told us to sit still and wait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disclosing
to make known (as information previously kept secret)
I won't tell your secret to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of telling
Heather Yerrid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Week 1 is nearly here, and the first outing against the New York Jets will be very telling.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
In turn, Mamdani has distanced himself from the national DSA platform in recent months, telling reporters that his platform is the one that is on his website.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telling
Adjective
Manager Engagement Shapes Organizational Output One of the most telling findings from Gallup’s 2025 version of their report is the drop in manager engagement (download required).
—Heather Yerrid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Week 1 is nearly here, and the first outing against the New York Jets will be very telling.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Braun responded with a letter telling Grapevine to stop putting out false information.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
In turn, Mamdani has distanced himself from the national DSA platform in recent months, telling reporters that his platform is the one that is on his website.
—Halle Troadec, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling
Adjective
-
Scammers piece these details together to build convincing attacks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Scammers today can craft convincing emails that look exactly like those from customer support teams – addressed to you personally, written in perfect English, and offering help with everyday tasks.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since their 23-9 win Sunday against the Browns, the Steelers have not minced words when describing the playing surface for the game.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Velasquez, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured and has not been charged in what officials are describing as an accident on a dark road.—
Susan Young,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Earnings calls are typically a masterclass in how to get away with saying as little as possible.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Anfernee laughed while saying his mom was his savior in such situations.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks are counting on it.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The Aggies are 5-1 overall, not counting an opening-night game against Mercer in the FCS Kickoff Classic in Alabama that was halted because of nearby lightning strikes with the Aggies leading 23-17 in the fourth quarter.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But after winning just six games the next two seasons, AD Mike Garrett left a message on the coach’s answering machine informing him he was fired.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Stewart opened by informing the audience that there have been six mass shootings in the past 24 hours.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Other workers received robo-calls instructing them not to come to work, said Greg Ball, president of the Nor Cal Beverage Employees’ Union and 17-year employee of the plant.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In the meantime, the group encouraged voluntary compliance by instructing financial managers to pause all trades.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By suddenly disclosing its true holdings, China could drive up gold prices while signaling stronger backing for the renminbi, thus weakening the dollar’s global clout.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
-
None of this requires disclosing the weights or the particular data that gave the model its power.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Reducing their reliance on the grid, then, would involve compelling utilities to leave PJM, or securing electricity from alternative sources.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The African American History building was closed for unclear reasons (that seemed to me ominous), but the John Brown Museum right across the street had compelling displays about Brown’s attack and its aftermath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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