tells (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of tell (on)
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

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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)
  1. influences
  2. talks
  3. affects
  4. informs
  5. impresses
  6. impacts
  7. touches
Verb
  • Financials are one of the most Fed-sensitive parts of the stock market, because the central bank’s overnight lending rate target directly influences banks’ funding costs.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • El Niño is a cyclic climate pattern that influences weather around the globe.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of influences
Verb
  • Consider This host Juana Summers talks with ProPublica reporter Avi Asher-Schapiro about FBI records that point to a possible congressional pay-for-play scheme.
    — September 26, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The White House also arranged for an elaborate military review that the leaders and their spouses observed before the Oval Office talks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of talks
Verb
  • The output of such organizations affects everyone, and a conscientious official may reasonably fear that exiting in a crisis will only accelerate it.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Consumer prices Consumers will experience different price changes depending on their locations, which affects both the distances goods need to travel and the amounts of fuel available.
    — Vidya Mani, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of affects
Verb
  • And his awareness of the camera and of the frame informs his behavior in this way that is very intuitive.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Wellness informs every aspect of life on board, from ensuring purified air and maximum comfort during sleep to the study of color schemes for different times of the day.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of informs
Verb
  • If Smith impresses in training camp, his non-guaranteed deal could be converted to a standard contract.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Microsoft Windows 11 Windows 11 impresses with broad hardware and software compatibility and superb gaming features, while recent updates address long-standing user frustrations.
    — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of impresses
Verb
  • Construction impacts The developer provided additional construction measures in response to council concerns about the project’s proximity to the school.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The recall impacts about 2,000 units of the Rainbow Rattle Grasping and Teething Toy.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of impacts
Verb
  • Today, software touches nearly every aspect and dimension of the vehicle, from battery management to infotainment, braking, cybersecurity and advanced driver assistance.
    — Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Collectively, the tech and sports exits could save around £17M, which barely touches the sides of overall savings required.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of touches
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.

Browse Nearby Words

tells off
tells (on)
telltale
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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 Oct. 2026.

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