1
as in influences
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 talks
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 tells (on)
Verb
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That perspective influences those companies' innovation strategies, according to Katz-Mayfield.—
Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
7 June 2026 -
The brain influences the body’s response to nerves as much as that of the mind.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The agreement comes after the Israeli government threatened to escalate its actions in Lebanon — a move that threatens to derail the US-Iran talks.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Below, Boston talks to Deadline about her unique writing process, the thematic heart of the series and why the show’s shocking finale ultimately functions as a breakup story.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects about 1 million Amerians.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
7 June 2026
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The change affects two state Senate districts in the Montgomery area.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Verb
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This philosophy informs the organization’s experiential learning division, known as the Soulship Academy or Light School.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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But the spirit of McCartney’s meticulous recent archival projects now informs the message of his new music.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Birr Castle Demesne Situated in central Ireland, almost exactly between Galway and Dublin, Birr Castle Demesne impresses with 120 picturesque acres of gardens.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
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This impresses easily, and will become part of your regular breakfast rotation.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The closure impacts one of Arizona's largest lakes.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Sudden unexpected infant death disproportionately impacts Black infants, the county said.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The storyline parallels government cover-up narratives from the past (Pentagon Papers/Watergate) and today (Epstein Files), and touches on our current dehumanizing immigration policies.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
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The research touches on the term benchmaxing, which is the practice of inflating AI benchmark scores not through better models, but through better server configurations.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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