TELLS (ON) Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

tells (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of tell (on)

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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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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells (on)

Verb

By calling a game early for excessive precipitation (or making players continue to trudge through poor conditions), an umpire’s subjective view of weather conditions directly influences MLB records.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026
That gap in knowledge is becoming increasingly important as climate change influences weather patterns around the world and extreme events are expected to become more frequent and, in some cases, more intense.

— Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

Speaking from beyond the grave, Andy Warhol talks with Jasper Dean about the latter’s love for Beat poets and Cameron Winter.

— Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
The Emmy nominee talks her introduction to horror and exploring the origins of the original killer.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Definition of talks

Verb

West Nile, spread by mosquitoes in the Culex genus, affects about 2,000 people every year in the US and causes about 130 deaths, and this season is off to an early and ominous start, the CDC warned.

— Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
The limited nature of the aquariums’ beluga habitats affects the whales both physically and mentally, with one of the main problems being boredom, said Marino, who is also a neuroscientist.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of affects

Verb

Moving on to the housekeeping items, the organizer informs us of the presence of a documentary film crew on the grounds.

— Nick H. Penniman, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
In a brief filing, Google’s legal team informs the court that Google is prepared to begin distributing third-party app stores in Google Play on July 22.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Definition of informs

Verb

The group also impresses with unique choreography, incorporating Pilates balls into their routine.

— Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Newcastle are keen to get the Munoz transfer sealed, given that if the versatile attacker impresses on the global stage, that may prompt greater interest.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Definition of impresses

Verb

That gap between an anti-fraud rule and one that touches every American’s ability to communicate privately is forcing privacy experts to weigh in on the proposal’s implications.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Elsewhere, collections at Khaite, Dries Van Noten, and Loro Piana nodded to the golden age of the 1920s, incorporating elegant Art Deco touches throughout.

— Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 13 July 2026

Definition of touches

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tells off

tells (on)

telltale

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“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tells (on)

verb

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