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

The page will surely contain clues—maybe the subject matter points to a particular shelf, or the author uses telltale turns of phrase—but sometimes a match can’t be found. — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

The groups found that many of the users dubbed orcas often showed telltale signs of insider trading and identified 152 such accounts betting on military and geopolitical events. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

The suspicious em dash—and the easily disprovable notion that only AI used them—was offered as a telltale sign. — M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026

The continued appearance of the virus’ telltale rash in state after state since last year warns of cracks in our once-solid protection, leaving communities vulnerable to other deadly contagions. — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 18 Aug. 2026

Another telltale sign is a pot or pan that refuses to sit flat. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026

This means that small separations between objects can become huge down the line — the telltale sign of chaos. — Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

In some cases, people develop telltale skin lesions, particularly on the face. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Better telltale symptoms are confusion, seizures, difficulty breathing, nausea or sometimes unconsciousness. — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 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