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

Buffalo chicken is always a crowd-pleasing flavor profile, and this enchilada-style casserole makes the most of its telltale spice and tang. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026

The microlensing lineup between the two stars came and went in 2023, and the telltale planetary signal sat unnoticed in TESS’s archive for nearly three years before researchers connected the dots. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 6 July 2026

The telltale signs of a screwworm infection are the growing wounds or lesions and the presence of feeding maggots on living animals. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 29 June 2026

At one Nutex emergency room, a receptionist turned away an uninsured patient who arrived with the telltale signs of a heart attack but was unable to pay upfront. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 29 June 2026

The second swing was more of an off-balanced flail, the telltale sign of being fooled by a breaking ball. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 June 2026

The telltale signs are everywhere. — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Miller was dominating Northeast Dubois’ hitters, and there was a telltale sign. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026

University of Oxford ancient DNA researcher Ruairidh Macleod and his colleagues recently sequenced the telltale bacterial DNA in teeth from plague victims at four ancient cemeteries in the area around Russia’s Lake Baikal. — ArsTechnica, 18 June 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