telling

adjective

tell·​ing ˈte-liŋ How to pronounce telling (audio)
: carrying great weight and producing a marked effect : effective, expressive
the most telling evidence
tellingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for telling

valid, sound, cogent, convincing, telling mean having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance.

valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent
a valid marriage

sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

Examples of telling in a Sentence

Her experience is a telling example of why the nation's educational system needs to be changed. The most telling moment in the case was when the victim took the stand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those first few practices in pads will be very telling. Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 24 July 2025 Among the most telling categories are basic consumer goods and cars. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 July 2025 Watching the transport staff trying to push wheelchairs up these ramps was very telling. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025 Recent Gallup research paints a telling picture: while algorithmic tool adoption has surged (a 12-point increase in white-collar roles since 2024), employee preparedness to work with AI has declined from 2024 to 2025. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for telling

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telling was in 1819

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telling. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

telling

adjective
tell·​ing
ˈtel-iŋ
: producing a noticeable effect : effective
the most telling evidence
tellingly
-iŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on telling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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