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

This rainfall may produce life threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Hurricane Lala.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
But even those with insurance can be affected by a fractured system, said Joy Burkhard, CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

Instead of speaking only about the Beautiful Game, Eason would talk to Diomandé about his mother, who suffers from long-term health issues, and genuinely cared about the person behind the player.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Founded in 2009, the group has bloomed into a small empire—we’re talking nearly 70 of the South’s favorite restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes, plus another dozen or so in development—with thoughtful intention.

— Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of talk

Verb

The outcome of this bellwether case is expected to significantly influence whether other states pursue similar legal actions against AI companies.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Despite typically lower participation, voters casting ballots Tuesday said the primary remains an important opportunity to influence which candidates advance to the general election.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of influence

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

Drew Allar impresses in preseason debut against Packers The Steelers' third-round pick out of Penn State this past year went 10 for 13 for 154 yards and three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.

— Patrick Damp, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Vesga’s casting came from an hour-long conversation Bialy and Scott had with him at Gelson’s after being impressed by his tape.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 19 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

Allure content director Sophie Panych, whose hair is naturally fine and straight, will occasionally touch things up with a flat iron.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
During a subsequent forensic interview at the Children's Protection Center, the teen disclosed that the defendant touched her thigh and torso while tickling her.

— John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of touch

Verb

But Ezra Klein’s commentary on the movie did lead me to think about the broader issues the movie raises, which strike me as interesting and important.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Iran still strikes at tankers, and expects some form of control over the strait to endure even after a diplomatic settlement.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 20 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tell (on)

verb

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