1
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response
the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in talking
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities
detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling (on)
Verb
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The Mac also grew 6 percent year over year despite the shortages affecting the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and MacBook Neo.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026 -
Cook County Circuit Court judges must be more prepared than ever to have their decisions, especially those affecting pretrial detention in violent-crime cases, subject to the same sort of scrutiny mayors, governors and other officeholders receive.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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My issue is that over the years, my massage therapist has started talking to me more and more during the massage session and occasionally talks to me the entire session.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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To improve your sleep, the organization suggests minimizing disruptions before bed (yes, including screens) and talking to your doctor to solve any potential issues like sleep apnea.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This leadership follows a congressional report showing foreign adversaries are actively influencing American academia — shining a spotlight on Indiana and Purdue University, in particular, as both a model for reform and a case study in risk.—
Joe Gebbia Sr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Recent research suggests the average B2B deal cycle is roughly 6 months, with 5–10 people often influencing the decision.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The 38-year-old was hired as the club’s new under-21s coach from Southampton’s academy last summer and then promoted to Rosenior’s backroom staff after impressing in a two-game spell at the helm following Enzo Maresca’s departure in January.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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After beginning the season out of the rotation, Jakucionis went on to crack the Heat’s rotation in December by impressing coaches with his energy, playmaking skills and ability to hold up on defense.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Denver Post business team would like to hear your perspective on how AI is impacting the workforce in Colorado.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
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The outage spanned from the Presidio to the Great Meadow Park area in the Marina District, impacting homes and businesses north of Lombard Street.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The legislation requires employers with more than 100 full-time employees to file a 60-day notice informing employees and government officials of upcoming layoffs.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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After informing her choir teacher about what happened, a nurse was informed who then called the girl's parents.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sycamore examines her complicated relationship with her late grandmother Gladys, a renowned Baltimore artist, and begins by literally touching her paintings and collages.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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To protect yourself, the CDC encourages washing your hands after touching birds, anything in their habitat, and their eggs.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities say Walton, who was nearly entirely in the roadway, then placed the vehicle in drive and intentionally accelerated forward, striking the victim.—
Stepheny Price , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2026
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Investigators said the argument escalated into a physical fight when the female suspect began swinging and striking the victim in the chest and head and then pulling her hair.—
Alexa Ashwell,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Telling (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling%20%28on%29. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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