tell (on)

verb

Definition of tell (on)next
1
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to talk
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell (on)
  1. affect
  2. talk
  3. influence
  4. inform
  5. impress
  6. impact
  7. touch
  8. strike
Verb
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition causes a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Kitchen temperature and humidity significantly affect the quality of bread made in a bread machine.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • The first episode finds Anna just talking to herself, aloud, a lot.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Tuning into their broadcasts is basically listening to old buddies talking baseball.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of talk
Verb
  • The lockup calendar A key event on Thursday could influence the stock’s near-term moves.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The solitude at the end of the world definitely influenced Shearwater’s sound, as this new record is among the most spare and reflective in Meiburg’s career.
    — David Harris, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of influence
Verb
  • According to Shai Eisenman, founder and chief executive officer of Bubble, the pairings were informed by long-standing consumer requests.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Schulz responded that the agency only needed to inform Congress about the reorganization.
    — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • Photography by Venetia Scott impresses itself on you like that—an entire aesthetic world, made by an ultra-discreet British fashion photographer-polymath who lives and works at the end of a quiet street in North Kensington.
    — Sarah Mower, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Advanced Micro Devices is primed to outperform even after its latest financial report failed to impress investors, analysts said.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of impress
Verb
  • As Iraola implies, society impacts football as much as the game impacts society.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • While school traffic is largely confined to non-freeways, interstate traffic does impact the school commute.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of impact
Verb
  • The clock stops once the rider removes his hand from the rope or touches anything with his free arm.
    — Ava DiCecca, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The traditional farmhouse touches indoors and massive swimming pool don’t hurt its charm, either.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • The biggest threat to Ukraine’s cities can strike with little or no warning.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The two countries struck a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at halting the conflict, restoring shipping traffic, launching negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and eventually loosening sanctions on Iran.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of strike
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.

Browse Nearby Words

tell off
tell (on)
tells
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Cite this Entry

“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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