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

During a frightening moment, notice the telltale signs of alarm, like trembling hands, a racing heart, or feeling cold. — Juli Fraga, Time, 29 Oct. 2026

Today the lines look like prose, forming a continuous text with no hint of structure in the layout and no telltale end rhymes to interrupt the flow. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026

Importations In their analysis, health officials identified the first importation in a resident who fell ill with the telltale rash on January 12 after returning from a trip to South Carolina, where they were exposed to a person sick with measles. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026

This is where thousands of papers with telltale signs of inappropriate AI use (and other forms of research misconduct) have been exposed. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Oct. 2026

Lawrence wore black Authentic lace-ups while Maroney went for the Old Skools with the telltale white stripe. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026

Instead of the telltale hyperactivity common in men, women are much more likely to experience ADHD internally. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026

In the 1960s America launched the Vela fleet of satellites, whose sole task was to look at Earth’s surface and search for any telltale neutrons, x-rays and gamma rays—extremely high-energy particles—coming from a nuclear explosion. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Yet in September, Bangladesh reported a daily average of 1,198 new cases of measles, which causes a high fever, cough and telltale rash. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 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