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
  • Smiling can affect brain chemicals that are associated with positive feelings including endorphins, dopamine and serotonin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that spur changes in the atmosphere that can affect weather around the world.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Publicly, Pacific Fusion talks mostly about its future ability to supply electricity, a promise the fusion industry has made for years.
    — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The 6,200-square-foot venue spans two levels and features a 700-square-foot dry sauna, an infrared sauna and a 46-degree cold plunge, with dim communal areas built in to encourage guests to linger and talk.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of talk
Verb
  • Likewise, depression, obesity, Alzheimer’s, heart disease—all are wildly different diseases, yet all are influenced by diet.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Considerations like demonstrated student need, existing student health and a school’s capacity to implement and sustain the program will influence the decision.
    — Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of influence
Verb
  • The report stated the test was not aimed at any country or specific target, and that relevant governments were informed ahead of time.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The mass sampling and real-time information gathering on prediction markets can extend their utility to informing business decisions, according to Zitzewitz.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of inform
Verb
  • James was impressed by the rising generation of perfumers’ work ethic, remarkable ideas and ability to storytell.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Rocky was played by James Ortiz, an actor with extensive puppeteering experience who impressed Gosling at his initial audition.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of impress
Verb
  • Our hearts are with the families whose homes and livelihoods have been impacted.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
  • And rather than wait for a reason to smile, just making the physical change of literally turning that frown upside down could impact emotions, according to experts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of impact
Verb
  • Writing diaristic, country-leaning soft-rock, Stiltz also touches on the work of David Berman and Bill Callahan.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The carbon covers the grip, the thumb rest, and the soft-release button, the spots a photographer touches most.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • The event’s jaw-dropping radiance stunned astronomers, who think that a GRB of this strength strikes Earth only once every 10,000 years.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The Houthis also struck two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 20 Oct. 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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