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
-
The disappearance of the streetscape, put in place following the George Floyd protests in 2020, is indicative of what’s happened in Trump 2.0 — an all-out war on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, in the government and outside of it.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
18 May 2025
-
If New York’s Game 6 performance was indicative of what’s to come, the team may not be done playing for a while.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
That man would also become an FBI informant in the case, according to the document.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
20 May 2025
-
After his arrest, Snake works with law enforcement to become an informant but ultimately sets them up.—
Carrie Wittmer,
Vulture,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
The city of Alameda, Calif., halted an experiment to spray sea-salt particles skyward to make clouds more reflective.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
-
For far too long, hearing folks have co-opted and told our stories, and 100% of them are not reflective of our experiences.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
In my experience, nobody loves gossip about the LGBTQ+ community more than…well, members of said community.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
15 May 2025
-
Note to Leaders: Put a moratorium on secrets, myths, and gossip.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Singh says that the Kashmir policy of India's Hindu nationalist government has alienated residents of Kashmir, and cost the Indian army its vital network of local informers.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The book’s cast of characters is immense, including spies and informers, dubious bankers, Mafiosos, terrorists, radical priests who support the poor, and conservatives who back right-wing dictators.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While the reports do give more clarity than a warrant canary, the traditional canary page has been an industry standard that many people recognize immediately.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 May 2025
-
While in prison, Stroud began raising canaries and conducted research on birds, later publishing respected books on bird diseases.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
The sci-fi series has given us everything from mutant super-soldiers to all-out war between a farmer and an army of rats.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
-
Also, humans consume red dye No. 3 at levels far lower than those shown to cause cancer in two studies of rats, according to the FDA.—
Jasmine Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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