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
Relevance
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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One of my takeaways from Something Familiar was how trauma stays in the family, affecting future generations.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026 -
The Oscars are on Sunday — and some people think liberal politics are affecting awards too much.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After all, talking to a defiant teen can be like tiptoeing through a minefield—the smallest misstep could set off an argument.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Live Nation was reportedly talking with other DOJ officials outside of the antitrust division looking to settle, though the case proceeded after Subramanian denied Live Nation’s motion to dismiss the case last month while cutting out some claims to narrow the suit.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Being in a state of stress, for example, may shape the structure of neural variance — influencing the magnitude or degrees of freedom.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That’s because local media campaigns that reflect different political ideologies and community priorities may have a better chance of influencing the public.—
Angela Hart,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After impressing with five strikeouts in six innings in his first two outings for the Yankees this spring, Rodriguez went off to join Puerto Rico in the WBC and dominated with three scoreless innings in his start against Cuba last Monday.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
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Some of these pitchers impressing in the spring are actually in the midst of what will be a breakout season.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Specifically, in the new study, the authors found that compared with previous estimates a hypothetical 1 meter of sea-level rise could put up to 37% more land below sea level, impacting 77–132 million people across the globe.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, stocks tumbled as oil hit $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022 as the ripple effects from the war continue impacting global markets.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Green Bay Packers are doing some shuffling at cornerback by adding Benjamin St-Juste while informing Nate Hobbs of a plan to release him a year after signing him to the $48 million, four-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the decisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Carita Kim, a PUSD parent ambassador, was among those informing families about the program.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Serve the egg on the side for anyone who prefers things not touching.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
-
People with seasonal allergies should avoid touching their eyes while outside and quickly wash up and change clothes once indoors, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Hali Smith
March 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Campsites gone fancy led the change, taking advantage of the area’s striking scenery and abundance of wide-open spaces.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
As companies restructure roles around AI tools, enterprises are racing to upskill employees—and the numbers are striking.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 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 16 Mar. 2026.
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