as in convincing
having the power to persuade
presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in describing
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
they told the story of how they had met
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
just tell us what is in your heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in counting
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
4
as in informing
to give information to
tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
told us to sit still and wait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disclosing
to make known (as information previously kept secret)
I won't tell your secret to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of telling
Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
India’s presence at the event is the most telling example yet of the warming ties between the two Asian powers – a budding realignment that threatens to undo years-long US efforts to cultivate New Delhi as a counterweight against a rising and increasingly assertive China.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Their son, Guillermo, didn’t get on the bus and ran back to his family, VPM reported, telling the agents that his father has valid immigration documents.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telling
Adjective
Perhaps the most telling piece of evidence testifying to the importance of fire for our kind was the attendant suite of changes to the anatomy of the now-varied group of hominins, various species of which spanned not only Africa but also Eurasia as the Pleistocene drew on, from Spain to Indonesia.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
India’s presence at the event is the most telling example yet of the warming ties between the two Asian powers – a budding realignment that threatens to undo years-long US efforts to cultivate New Delhi as a counterweight against a rising and increasingly assertive China.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2024 the company raised $20 million from venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners, with leaders telling THR that year that the company valued itself at $750 million.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Their son, Guillermo, didn’t get on the bus and ran back to his family, VPM reported, telling the agents that his father has valid immigration documents.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for telling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling
Adjective
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Phishing scams often use convincing logos and language to trick you into revealing sensitive information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application goes live on October 1, but with student aid season underway, there is an onslaught of new and convincing scams within the education system.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Showrunner, Luke Matheny was on a similar wavelength when describing his thoughts about taking on the project.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
1 Oct. 2025
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Although her music is bright and confident, what McRae is describing is an inner world shaped by darkness.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the Democratic leadership is demanding an immediate extension to soon-to-expire Obamacare subsidies for their votes, saying Americans face a sharp rise in health care costs without them.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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The club has been saying since the summer that the stadium only requires a few finishing touches for it to re-open at a reduced capacity of about 27,000.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In fact, cutting benefits could create a huge backlash from those who are counting on very specific payments in their retirement years.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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Now, the neoclassical structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum counting 57 of Orozco’s frescoes.—
David Shortell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But after winning just six games the next two seasons, AD Mike Garrett left a message on the coach’s answering machine informing him he was fired.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Stewart opened by informing the audience that there have been six mass shootings in the past 24 hours.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jean’s mama reproached her for not having been more careful and babied Wole, ordering him to remove his T-shirt and retrieving an aloe lotion, telling him to stretch out on the couch and instructing Jean to spread it over the tender areas.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown, with instructions to target programs they are not legally required to continue.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What’s needed is training that will help directors put this tool into practice, with considerations around ethical use such as not disclosing confidential company information while posing a query to AI.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
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Financial information is deeply personal and some worry that disclosing income or inheritance could create entitlement or unnecessary anxiety.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This new Taiwanese series looks compelling.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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That's what makes the minerals Perseverance spotted — particularly greigite in the leopard spots — so compelling.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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