TELL (ON) Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

tell (on)

verb

Definition of tell (on)

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

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)

Verb

Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
During an appearance on Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes‘ podcast SmartLess earlier this month, Bullock opened up about the 2023 death of her partner, Bryan Randall, and how that affected her children.

— Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

Fleming by body camera footage, approached Parker, who was talking on his cellphone.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Maybe a family watches a favorite performer together, while nearby strangers start talking because someone forgot sunscreen and their friend packed enough for six people.

— Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of talk

Verb

Currently, there are three categories of vaccination recommendations granted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is informed by a panel of independent expert advisors, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Over the weekend, Bloomberg News reported Nvidia has informed customers of impending price hikes on AI servers due to memory costs.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of inform

Verb

Young, who also had a fumble, has been impressed with Freeling’s competitiveness in his first camp and chalked up the rookie’s struggles to who lined up opposite him.

— Joseph Person, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
But, with sky-high earnings expectations, can the group led by CEO Jensen Huang actually impress investors?

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of impress

Verb

Rain has already begun to move across the Big Island and is expected to continue through at least Monday, with lingering rain still impacting some of the islands possibly on Tuesday.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Postpartum Support International provides free support to new mothers and families impacted by maternal mental health conditions.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of impact

Verb

Her team said they were touched by the idea and are open to continuing the conversation, according to Lee.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
Chinese cars are effectively banned in the United States through steep tariffs and regulatory restrictions, but that doesn’t apply to everything China touches in the auto industry.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of touch

Verb

In the lawsuit, investors alleged they were led to believe that a groundbreaking Wondermind app would be made, advertising deals would be struck, and celebrity cover stories were already underway.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Floods originating from a glacial lake struck the same valley in 2025, while an ice and rock avalanche occurred elsewhere in the area in 2024.

— Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 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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“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tell (on)

verb

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