as in indicative
indicating something
I know you've been eating chocolate because of the telltale smudges on your face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of telltale
Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 30 Jan. 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 only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 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
Photo: Courtesy of Neon Spectators at the crash scene in 1957 reported hearing the telltale hiss of a tire blowing out.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2024
The initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
And in the following days, astronomers saw the telltale reddening of a kilonova in the same spot as the gamma-ray burst.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Noun
Check for telltale thinning at the crown and temples; broken, frizzy bits at ear and chin level; as well as shorter strands at the nape of the neck that look shredded or wispy.
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 30 Jan. 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 only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 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
Photo: Courtesy of Neon Spectators at the crash scene in 1957 reported hearing the telltale hiss of a tire blowing out.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2024
The initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
And in the following days, astronomers saw the telltale reddening of a kilonova in the same spot as the gamma-ray burst.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telltale
Adjective
-
Past performance is not indicative of future results.—
Thomas Lee,
CNBC,
30 July 2025
-
The Trump administration’s criticism of the Fed’s $2.5 billion renovation project — which the president seems to have backed off from after his Thursday tour — is also indicative that administration officials view the central bank as an excessive spender.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Moreland's plan failed as Pedigo became a confidential informant for the FBI, adding to the federal government's case for obstruction of justice and witness tampering.—
Hadley Hitson,
The Tennessean,
17 July 2025
-
Nationwide, there have been 256 exonerations tied to the use of jailhouse informants, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Police said Cruz-Sanchez was wearing a reflective safety vest at the time and was throwing trash into the trailer, which featured flashing lights and an arrow indicator.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 July 2025
-
That is reflective of the 141 head coaching changes just in the past two offseasons.—
Richard Obert,
AZCentral.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
Besides the usual weather report and family gossip, Fanny’s father was consistently supportive of her writing, urging her not to rush through life too quickly, offering gentle advice in tough times without pretending to know it all, full of that Howe family wit and humor.—
Ezra Fox
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
-
More gossip was unleashed when Albert was photographed with his son Alexandre Grimaldi, daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Nicole Coste, Alexandre’s mother, in 2023.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Over the past eight decades, the CCP has constructed a vast network of millions of informers and spies whose often unpaid work has been critical to the regime’s survival.—
Minxin Pei,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Feb. 2024
-
The Nazis set up secret squads in the camps to conduct beatings and killings of prisoners thought to be too friendly with U.S. officials or were accused of being informers.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
But as Malik Rahim puts it, New Orleans was just the canary in the American coal mine.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 July 2025
-
But the small-cap Russell 2000, the canary in the coal mine, and the old economy industrials, the DJIA, appear to be singing from a different hymn book.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
The dye was linked to thyroid cancer risks in rats as well as behavioral issues in children such as hyperactivity.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
Fulton County was reported to have 318 rodents for every 1,000 homes, while Susquehanna County was found to have 301 mice and rats per 1,000 housing units.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
These figures include single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes. Reach growth and development reporter Matthew Glowicki at mglowicki@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4000.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
29 July 2025
-
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky.—
Erin Glynn,
The Enquirer,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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