Synonyms of telltale

telltale 1 of 2

adjective

as in indicative

indicating something

I know you've been eating chocolate because of the telltale smudges on your face

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indicative
• reflective
• characteristic
• denotative
• significant
• denoting
• signifying
• referring
• symbolic
• symptomatic
• allusive
• expressive
• alluding
• demonstrative
• suggestive
• exhibiting
• hinting
• insinuating
• implying
• connoting

telltale

2 of 2

noun

ˈtel-ˌtāl 

1

as in gossiper

a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others

the media's professional telltales have basically decided that today's celebrities have no right to privacy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gossiper
• gossip
• informant
• informer
• circulator
• newsmonger
• yenta
• talebearer
• tattletale
• tattler
• stool pigeon
• gossipmonger
• tale-teller
• squealer
• quidnunc
• blabbermouth
• betrayer
• snitcher
• scandalmonger
• libeler

2

as in informant

a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing

the department telltale told the boss that his coworkers were taking extra long breaks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• informant
• informer
• canary
• rat
• reporter
• tattletale
• tattler
• snitch
• betrayer
• stool pigeon
• stoolie
• squealer
• snitcher
• nark
• deep throat
• spy
• talebearer
• fink
• rat fink
• tipster
• snoop
• discloser
• notifier
• blabbermouth
• gossiper
• leaker
• snooper
• gossip
• whistleblower
• exposer
• blabber

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of telltale

Adjective

My ears strained for the telltale sound of a deer bounding away through the darkness. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Broadly, though, the firms seem to have watched for accounts prompting their models in suspicious ways, whether by firing off lots of prompts in a short time or by asking telltale kinds of questions. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026

The fitness tracker will also watch for the telltale signs of serious medical conditions like atrial fibrillation and irregular heart rhythms with alerts when they’re detected. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026

Rebuses aren’t disclosed to the solver, but there are telltale signs. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Continue reading … STONE SECRETS — 'Lost' medieval castle found hiding in plain sight after professor spots telltale clues. — FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

In the case of measles, that's typically four days before the telltale rash appears and four days after, according to McCullough. — Rachel Carlson, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Fortunately, experts have telltale signs to spot a fake antique from the real deal. — Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026

In forensic parlance, a diagnosis of exclusion is one reached by ruling out other plausible causes; drowning can be challenging to prove, because often there’s no telltale sign that one occurred. — Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Noun

Images must be taken at a high cadence, at least every few minutes or so, to spot the telltale tweak to a star’s brightness as it’s microlensed by a relatively small PBH. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 4 June 2026

Torry’s wife, a speech therapist, noticed concerning telltales that led to a diagnosis 14 years ago, when Torry was only 40 years old. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026

However, when outflows from young stars strike surrounding molecular clouds, shockwaves are created that heat matter and cause molecular hydrogen to emit telltale emissions. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Nov. 2025

That was a big telltale for the song. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025

After two months, there was an average 45% increase in new eyelash growth without the telltale darkening of skin and eye color that often comes with PGA formulas. — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025

Tents selling fireworks all over the county are opening and the telltale pops, booms and bangs can be heard far and wide leading up to Independence Day. — Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 22 June 2024

The thief slowly turns the dial, listening for the telltale clicks or resistance that might hint at the inner workings of the safe's gears and reveal its combination. — Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 21 June 2020