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

The right dose, delivered consistently and appropriately, influences outcomes.

— John Graham Harper, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The pair bonded over their Vietnamese roots, and that shared heritage now influences their entertaining styles.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

Abdul-Mateen, who previously won an Emmy for his role on HBO’s Watchmen and was Tony-nominated for Topdog/Underdog, talks to Vanity Fair about his show’s sudden cancellation, his newest hobby, and being kinder to himself.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026
Patrick, who talks regularly with Ford and Moore, agreed, saying that is not just how a governor does the job, but how a candidate wins it in the first place.

— Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of talks

Verb

What to put in an anxiety bag Since anxiety affects everyone differently, Powell suggests choosing items that appeal to you — including those that engage multiple senses, such as taste, touch and smell.

— Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026
The organization says while a lot of work has been accomplished to bring those numbers down, any death in the community is concerning, every loss affects the community.

— Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of affects

Verb

Creator instinct informs what gets made, how it is presented and how quickly the team responds.

— Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
When the Pogues return to Kildare from Azerbaijan, Rose informs them that Groff stole the Royal Merchant gold from her after trying to kill her.

— Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of informs

Verb

Drew Allar impresses in preseason debut against Packers The Steelers' third-round pick out of Penn State this past year went 10 for 13 for 154 yards and three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.

— Patrick Damp, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
The arts scene impresses, too, with several galleries sprinkled throughout town.

— Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of impresses

Verb

The potential for misuse and physical dependence impacts the severity of adverse effects linked to buprenorphine.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
This could relate to something unexpected that impacts your money, possessions or your earnings.

— Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of impacts

Verb

According to health officials, exposure to rabies can also happen when a person touches a bat's saliva or brain tissue or wakes up with one in their bedroom.

— Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
However, giving it to someone else can lead to germs being transferred, especially with makeup that touches the lips or eyes.

— Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 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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“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tells (on)

verb

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