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
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
In an interview with Flow Space, Pearson breaks down some of the telltale signs to help differentiate ADHD symptoms in men and women.
—Jennifer Shanker, Flow Space, 27 Aug. 2025
Look for telltale signs that machines will never halt — for example, many machines will fall into infinite repeating loops.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
These telltale signs are unmistakable.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2025
Microscopy analysis revealed telltale slice marks, scrape marks, and chop marks, as well as evidence of cremation, peeling, fractures, and human tooth marks.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2025
From actors to K-pop idols, non-invasive tightening treatments are a quiet essential—a way to keep skin camera-ready without the downtime or telltale signs of more invasive work.
—Carol Rh Malasig, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
There are telltale signs that something is fishy — and ways to reduce your chances of being swindled.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Its symptoms include a high fever, cough, red eyes and the telltale red rash — but may lead to potentially fatal complications like pneumonia.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
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
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
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
Another telltale sign is the sender's address.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
In an interview with Flow Space, Pearson breaks down some of the telltale signs to help differentiate ADHD symptoms in men and women.
—Jennifer Shanker, Flow Space, 27 Aug. 2025
Look for telltale signs that machines will never halt — for example, many machines will fall into infinite repeating loops.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
These telltale signs are unmistakable.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2025
Microscopy analysis revealed telltale slice marks, scrape marks, and chop marks, as well as evidence of cremation, peeling, fractures, and human tooth marks.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2025
From actors to K-pop idols, non-invasive tightening treatments are a quiet essential—a way to keep skin camera-ready without the downtime or telltale signs of more invasive work.
—Carol Rh Malasig, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
There are telltale signs that something is fishy — and ways to reduce your chances of being swindled.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Its symptoms include a high fever, cough, red eyes and the telltale red rash — but may lead to potentially fatal complications like pneumonia.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
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
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
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
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
-
Staying ahead of the chains Charlotte’s first play from scrimmage was indicative of its offensive performance against Appalachian State, with James Madison transfer Jesse Ramil committing a false start in his first snap with the program.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Droney found there was no collusion, saying league officials presenting economic information to owners is not indicative of collusion.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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
-
But an unnamed police informant told other police from Prince George’s County, Maryland that Abrego Garcia was tied to MS-13.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
But being an informant implies some formal connection and ongoing relationship with the FBI.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The paddles would be situated 180 degrees with relation to one another, so the reflective sides point in opposite directions.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The product has nine light-reflective shades and is infused with 85 percent skincare ingredients, the company tells me.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The famous wit adds a lot to a story that’s partly an earnest tango with grief, and partly an act of gossip.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Lack of transparency from management Lack of transparency from managers and higher-ups often leads to mistrust, speculation and gossip.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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
-
But the joblessness numbers and declining participation among Black women suggest a complication to his pronouncement and a canary in the coal mine for broader economic instability.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The insurance crisis is the canary in the coal mine for the climate crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As the connections strengthened, the rats showed significant functional recovery.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Roughly half of all the mammal species on the planet are rodents such as rats, mice, squirrels, and hamsters and they are found on every single continent except for Antarctica.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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