TELLINGLY Synonyms: 281 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'telling' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of telling are cogent , convincing , sound , and valid . While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter. // a telling example of bureaucratic waste

Q: When would 'cogent' be a good substitute for 'telling'?

Although the words cogent and telling have much in common, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation. // the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

Q: When is it sensible to use 'convincing' instead of 'telling'?

The synonyms convincing and telling are sometimes interchangeable, but convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept. // a convincing argument for welfare reform

Q: When is 'sound' a more appropriate choice than 'telling'?

The words sound and telling can be used in similar contexts, but sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds. // a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Q: Where would 'valid' be a reasonable alternative to 'telling'?

While the synonyms valid and telling are close in meaning, valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority. // a valid reason for being absent // a valid marriage

telling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈte-liŋ

Definition of telling

as in convincing

having the power to persuade presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

telling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tell

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

as in saying

to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in informing

to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word telling different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of telling are cogent, convincing, sound, and valid. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

When would cogent be a good substitute for telling?

Although the words cogent and telling have much in common, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When is it sensible to use convincing instead of telling?

The synonyms convincing and telling are sometimes interchangeable, but convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

When is sound a more appropriate choice than telling?

The words sound and telling can be used in similar contexts, but sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Where would valid be a reasonable alternative to telling?

While the synonyms valid and telling are close in meaning, valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent

a valid marriage

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of telling

Adjective

The most telling detail about the vintage Heuer Monaco leading Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction in New York on June 15 speaks to the watch’s indisputable authenticity. — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 1 June 2026 But perhaps the most telling signal is that only 9% of workers, the people closest to the decisions, data and consequences, trust AI for complex, business-critical decisions. — John Davie, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Verb

The researchers found that people who included more of the seven elements when telling their life stories reported more meaning in life and less depression. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 20 July 2026 After England had beaten Norway in the previous round, Callan had booked a flight to Atlanta without telling his wife. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for telling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling

Adjective

Charlotte took some convincing to use planters as a barrier for the bike lanes along The Plaza.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026
That level of detail is part of why the rooms feel so convincing.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of convincing

Verb

Nights in a restaurant are often spent describing flavors, in sensory attention—at least when they aren’t filled with flirting with your coworkers or complaining about guests.

— Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
DeVriese-Sebilla said those attitudes had lasting consequences for Argentine, describing housing segregation as one of the community’s greatest historical challenges.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Definition of describing

Verb

Saudi Arabia briefly issued warnings in two locations before lifting them several minutes later, saying the danger had passed.

— Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
That report was correct, Swinehart said, but Smith told staff to release a statement saying Smith herself had trained Nicole Tepper.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of saying

Verb

Despite Clarity’s choppy obstacle course, the tedious and frustrating tradition of counting votes and lining up bipartisan yeahs, Member by Member, is a tactic the crypto industry has time to employ and perfect.

— Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Combined, those more than 10,000 and counting satellites are equipped with over 25,000 lasers currently in operation in LEO to maintain the network's interconnectedness, according to a NASA update.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of counting

Verb

Corporate officials reached out to Murrell later that day and apologized to her, informing her that the driver was no longer working for FedEx.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Page’s character Sinon is the soldier tasked with informing the Trojans that the Trojan Horse is a gift from the Greeks, imploring them to drag the giant statue into the city with Odysseus, Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) and more soldiers inside.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of informing

Verb

For weeks Donnie had been sending her money, and instructing her to deposit it into the nanny’s account.

— Juliet Linderman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Lagos shared that many athletic directors in her section are often teachers who take on the role of instructing students and then doing the full administrative labor required to help teams cycle through their schedules.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 14 July 2026

Definition of instructing

Verb

Pan noted that the majority is effectively ruling in favor of immediately disclosing the material by denying Biden's request for an injunction pending appeal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
When pressed repeatedly by a Fox News cohost for specifics on the operation, Homan explained that disclosing that type of information could risk officer safety and prompt criminals to flee.

— Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2026

Definition of disclosing

Adjective

In some ways, watching this late-career Messi has become just as compelling an experience as watching the one who recorded a quite absurd 91 goals and 22 assists for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
This analysis makes up the most compelling part of the book, which is written in a kind of structureless, hybrid blogger-academic style, and otherwise tends to bog down in confusing digressions.

— Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Definition of compelling

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tellies

telling

telling (of)

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“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of telling

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