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
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Nearly three decades later, authorities say that telltale mucus has finally pointed to a suspect, 75-year-old Joe Angel Contreras, who was just extradited from Oregon to answer for the October 1997 homicide.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Children in unvaccinated pockets of the country are now developing measles’ telltale rash.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Few have telltale signs of manipulation.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 13 Dec. 2025
Telescope observations, though, helped astronomers determine that 3I/ATLAS displays all the telltale signs of a comet.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 12 Dec. 2025
In the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Felipe’s Heladería hums with a nostalgic rhythm—whirring blenders, clinking spoons, and that telltale chorus of people debating toppings.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Those who are infected usually experience a telltale rash that appears in stages and is located on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
According to Cats Protection, there are several telltale behaviors that show when two cats genuinely get along.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Nov. 2025
That was a big telltale for the song.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
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
The only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
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 initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
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 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
Adjective
Their long, silvery-blue spiral arms are peppered with bright knots and specks, the telltale signposts of active, messy astrophysics in progress.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Nearly three decades later, authorities say that telltale mucus has finally pointed to a suspect, 75-year-old Joe Angel Contreras, who was just extradited from Oregon to answer for the October 1997 homicide.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Children in unvaccinated pockets of the country are now developing measles’ telltale rash.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Few have telltale signs of manipulation.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 13 Dec. 2025
Telescope observations, though, helped astronomers determine that 3I/ATLAS displays all the telltale signs of a comet.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 12 Dec. 2025
In the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Felipe’s Heladería hums with a nostalgic rhythm—whirring blenders, clinking spoons, and that telltale chorus of people debating toppings.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Those who are infected usually experience a telltale rash that appears in stages and is located on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
According to Cats Protection, there are several telltale behaviors that show when two cats genuinely get along.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
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
The only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
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 initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telltale
Adjective
-
This is indicative of the dismal attitude too many public servants have toward taxpayer money.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Some members of the Legislative Audit Commission signaled the audit findings could be indicative of more fraud in another program run by DHS.—
Ellie Roth,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Celebrity gossiper Rob Shuter reported that the two recently let go of a number of their staff.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Her staff figured out how to get rid of the gossiper.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Maria is under police protection as a confidential informant, according to the Mexican officer.—
Kevin Maurer,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The only ones awaiting sentence are those who became government informants and testified against former colleagues in law enforcement.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If natural light isn't sufficient, install grow lights or use reflective surfaces.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Stewart has explained the film as being designed as a reflective experience for the audience that unflinchingly shows the subconscious ways memory lives within the human body.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This gossip could not be further from the truth.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The story was first reported by Hollywood-centric social media gossip account Deuxmoi.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Frizer and Skeres were fraudsters, and the sinister Poley was an informer, crucial to the exposure of the Babington Plot.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Option 2: If one prisoner informs while the other stays silent, the informer will go free while the silent one receives the harshest sentence.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Those options include 13 local bus routes, six free Orbit circulator shuttle buses and the Valley Metro Streetcar that features nine light rail stops, according to the City of Tempe.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
14 Nov. 2025
-
Cuestas said the development incorporates climate-resilient and health-focused design features, including a three-year public transit circulator, EV infrastructure, and beyond-LEED and Title 24 building standards to ensure strong indoor air quality.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There is also growing concern within the House Republican caucus that Greene’s announcement is a canary in the coal mine and that multiple resignations will follow.—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
26 Dec. 2025
-
So is the Broomfield condo market the canary in the coal mine for the larger metro Denver housing market, a signal that the oxygen is gone and that home prices could fall across the region next year?—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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