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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Inside the glass vial lies the successor to the French company’s award-winning hair tonic, amped up with research into how the scalp’s microbiome influences your locks.
    — Dan Michel, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The 10-year Treasury, for instance, strongly influences mortgage rates and this week topped 5% for the first time since 2023.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of influences
Verb
  • Gonzalo also grows vanilla, and Christiansen talks excitedly about the tiny melipona bee involved in its propagation and the lengths the farm goes to protect its ecosystem from pesticides.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Correspondent Jim Axelrod talks to a gambler who wagers his annual income; and examines how the online betting platforms FanDuel and DraftKings – now the subjects of lawsuits regarding their design – interact with their customers.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of talks
Verb
  • The 10-year Treasury’s yield affects long-term borrowing costs, among them mortgage rates, which this month topped 7% for the first time in more than a year.
    — Dan Mangan,Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
  • When asked how that affects Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, Reid wanted nothing to do with the question.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of affects
Verb
  • Indulge in an otherworldly spa treatment or unwind with a summer cocktail—your intention informs your itinerary.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This is specifically what informs the ethos of Jason Scott & The High Heat, a band that has come to be known equally for their raw talent as their rancorous lyrics.
    — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of informs
Verb
  • The demo impresses the board, but then the project stalls somewhere between the proof of concept and the balance sheet.
    — Jakob Freund, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Final Thoughts Obsbot Meet Flip Obsbot once again impresses with a webcam that offers great-looking, great-sounding video in a ridiculously small package.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 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
  • Its work touches professional and talent development, project development, market access, international engagement and exhibition.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The ball first touches the ground, a player or anything else at a point nearer the opponent’s goal line than the passer’s hand.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 16 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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