1
as in affecting
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 talking
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 telling (on)
Verb
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Both types of flour should be stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to prevent moisture and pests from affecting the flour.—
Zoe Denenberg,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026 -
Heavy snow has been affecting Washington since earlier this week, with the biggest accumulations reported on mountains, according to the National Weather Service field office in Seattle.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Frankly, talking cost per use, the nail care hack pays for itself.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
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Seconds before the shooting, Good and her wife are seen talking to Ross.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Aesthetics may also be influencing the approach to the work triangle.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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After New Year’s Eve, on January 1, 2026, this number started influencing our lives.—
Hannah Madlener,
Glamour,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Restaurants such as Jacques and Noisette were impressing diners with caviar, duck and baguettes.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
30 Dec. 2025
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Parents might also consider that their teen could be removing body hair in the hopes of impressing a crush, which is why this also could be an opening to talk about safe sex and reproductive health.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Colleges proactively cut and consolidated more a fifth of the state's degrees, impacting fields ranging from dance to biotechnology.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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Further exemption guidelines would apply to students with disabilities, medical conditions or other factors impacting their ability to complete the test.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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New speed limit signs are expected to go up in the beginning of February, and FWC officers assigned to the area will begin enforcement by first informing boaters that the rules have changed, the city said in a news release.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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As for the rental’s neighbors, the regulations, if approved, also stipulate that a short-term rental’s owner send a letter by mail to adjoining property owners informing them that the residence has been approved as a short-term rental at least one week before the first rental in a calendar year.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The warrant stated that one of the children has been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, and has also reported having nightmares about Busfield touching him.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
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Cut any limbs that are crossing or touching one another.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite the 12-day Israeli war on Iran last summer, figures on all sides of the political spectrum came together in a rare show of unity, denouncing Israel for striking their country.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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Spot striking tropical flowers, colorful birds, and perhaps even a monkey in the forest canopy around the cascades.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Telling (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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