1
as in describes
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
they told the story of how they had met
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in says
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 counts
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 informs
to give information to
tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructs
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 reveals
to make known (as information previously kept secret)
I won't tell your secret to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tells
Men, society tells us ad nauseam, are simple creatures.
—
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Looking at these deals tells you that this is not a company dabbling in data centers.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
The note tells Michael that one of his guards, an off-duty New York City detective, will be here in a half-hour or so.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
The reality tells a far different story about the man steering the nation into war.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Miller’s casting came after the Summer House shake-up, Rob Mills, executive vice-president of unscripted at Disney, tells Vulture.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
And that just tells you about this team, man.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
No single one of these tells the whole story.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
But Mike’s attorney, Raymond Rafool, tells PEOPLE that Constance is contesting that, likening it to a bad deal signed years ago at a vulnerable moment.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Looking at these deals tells you that this is not a company dabbling in data centers.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
The note tells Michael that one of his guards, an off-duty New York City detective, will be here in a half-hour or so.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
The reality tells a far different story about the man steering the nation into war.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Miller’s casting came after the Summer House shake-up, Rob Mills, executive vice-president of unscripted at Disney, tells Vulture.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
And that just tells you about this team, man.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
No single one of these tells the whole story.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
But Mike’s attorney, Raymond Rafool, tells PEOPLE that Constance is contesting that, likening it to a bad deal signed years ago at a vulnerable moment.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells
Verb
-
The owner of concert promoter Brew Ha Ha Productions describes himself as a libertarian-leaning conservative who built his career in San Juan Capistrano.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Rostec describes the jet as a record-holder in enemy aircraft interceptions.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Mendoza ad will circulate on ESPN and on social media, the executive says – but not for very long.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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The indictment says that in exchange for money, the soldiers maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives over a few months and carried out a range of tasks under their direction.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The schedule at 4 North is similar to other units in the jail, with inmate counts multiple times a day.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
One organization that already has it is the UK’s AI Security Institute, which has become the world’s top neutral arbiter of what counts as safe and secure AI.—
Parmy Olson,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several of its designers previously worked on major projects such as Aman Tokyo and The Chedi Andermatt; experience that informs the team’s warm, Asian-leaning minimalism.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Since then, Tanshi has set up a major wildfire monitoring and prevention system that informs locals what days are safe for burning land, which is necessary to clear bush for farming.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a will or trust, a person instructs how to distribute assets upon their death.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
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If the model instructs a wrist to rotate 180 degrees – physically impossible without injury – the system automatically redistributes that motion across multiple joints.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 13,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
AnnaLynne exclusively reveals to PEOPLE that the former rugby player, 38, proposed nearly four months ago at her Los Angeles home on Christmas Day, when they were surrounded by loved ones.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The fictional Cabinet uses the Constitution’s 25th Amendment to force the Democratic President to undergo a physical examination, which reveals a brain tumor that was affecting his judgment and emotional state.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Reggie Daniel, Kennedy's cousin, recounts his first encounter with Weeks.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Mix recounts tales of exceptional Chargers teammates, including Lance Alworth, Ernie Ladd and Jack Kemp.—
Ron Mix,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And they’re trained from birth to believe that the prophet speaks directly with God and to obey whatever the prophet tells them to do.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Mulhouse Public Prosecutor Nicolas Heitz speaks to the press after a boy was discovered naked and malnourished on a pile of rubbish in a van where he had been kept locked up, in Hagenbach, eastern France, on April 10, 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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