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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For Lia Yildiz, a 25-year-old from Poland, Indiana, she was motivated to push back against the billionaire class that influences politicians' decision-making.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
28 Mar. 2026 -
The time of year also influences gas prices, as demand for fuel rises during warmer months.—
Grace Manthey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Karim just talks to the camera about elephants in a conversational tone.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Karim simply talks to his camera in a conversational tone about the elephants at the San Diego Zoo.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ban affects Christian neighborhoods in Damascus that are famous for their restaurants and pubs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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That shift affects the bottom line because regional sports networks paid teams fees for the rights to carry their games, leaving some teams scrambling to make up revenue, with the Cardinals in particular missing out on as much as $20 million, Sports Business Journal reported.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gavrilovska reflects on Pynchon’s long career and his interest in writing about systems, how his time as a technical writer at Boeing informs his work, his classic novels Gravity’s Rainbow and The Crying of Lot 49, and his new novel, Shadow Ticket.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
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Luna, the latest in Norwegian’s Prima Plus Class, takes inspiration from space – a theme that informs the design, amenities and programming.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Offensive line impresses Despite starting tackle Ryan Hughes and left guard Cade Bennett being held out of practice, TCU’s offensive line had a strong opening day of camp.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
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But what impresses Auriemma the most is Quinonez’s maturity, especially in how quickly she’s adapted to a brand new style of basketball.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israeli innovation impacts people around the world every day in fields such as cybersecurity, fintech and agriculture.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Some researchers argue that PCOS should be considered a metabolic disease that impacts hormone levels, insulin resistance, and more.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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For those surrounded by ocean ecosystems that are home to some of the country’s most active marine research communities, the science emerging from this species touches on deep-sea fisheries, conservation and the biology of aging itself.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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