tell

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as in to count
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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tell are betray, disclose, divulge, and reveal. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

Where would betray be a reasonable alternative to tell?

While in some cases nearly identical to tell, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When would disclose be a good substitute for tell?

The words disclose and tell can be used in similar contexts, but disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When might divulge be a better fit than tell?

Although the words divulge and tell have much in common, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can reveal take the place of tell?

The meanings of reveal and tell largely overlap; however, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tell Elsewhere, Arat tells Deadline a Greek remake of the series is in the works, while new markets are opening up. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 1 July 2025 The Dolphins were taking Fitzpatrick, Grier told owner Steve Ross, then head coach Adam Gase and team czar Mike Tannenbaum. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025 In summer 2001, he was told to quickly pack his bags as the sheriff was coming to evict them. Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell
Verb
  • His lawyer Jonathan Latimer described him as a man whose life was shaped by severe, untreated mental illness since his early 20s, and said the mental health treatment system failed him.
    Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
  • TikTok users flooded the comment section with responses describing the scene as heartwarming and emotionally stirring.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • An unknown gunman shot the boy while inside an apartment on the 6400 block of South Ingleside Avenue just after 6 p.m., police said.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
  • In addition to frequent password updates, individuals will need to be more alert about the increasing amount of malware hiding in illegitimate software, applications and other downloadable files, Valenzuela said.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Ballots that had that candidate ranked at the top will then have their votes counted toward their next preferred candidate.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 25 June 2025
  • With more than 81% of ballots counted, unofficial returns from the city Board of Elections showed Mamdani holding a roughly 8% lead over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has generally polled as the primary’s front-runner.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Officials pledged to inform the public through official channels as the situation evolves.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • There is no need to inform domains about their sluggish new competition.
    Michael Gargiulo, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Before doing anything else, inspect the inside of the grill for any grease build-up, Carothers instructs.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
  • Under modern judicial deference doctrines, courts have been instructed not to interpret the law, but to accept how agencies interpret it.
    Jon Riches, Oc Register, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Yzerman’s appraisal of the market is revealing, though.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 29 June 2025
  • And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • The 2007 teen drama centered on a group of wealthy high school students at an exclusive prep school on Manhattan's Upper East Side terrorized by a mysterious and vicious blogger (narrated by Kristen Bell) who spilled all of their secrets.
    EW.com, EW.com, 19 June 2025
  • This collection was adapted into the perennial Christmas classic A Christmas Story, which Shepherd narrated.
    Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Here to talk more about this is Tax Notes investigations editor Lauren Loricchio.
    Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Through it all, Thune kept talking to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate Mainer who blanched at the bill’s Medicaid cuts.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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