1
as in to affect
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 to talk
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 tell (on)
Verb
-
In a statement, the district said that if a resident saw ash or smelled smoke, they might be affected by fine particulate matter pollution.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026 -
Obviously, that was affected by Thursday’s weather.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
Verb
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There were cartoons while dressing children, evening news while cooking dinner, and, before bed, families watched mutely as onscreen families laughed and talked.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Emanuel and White served as VIP shepherds at times, bringing dignitaries over to talk to Trump when the action was quiet in the octagon, and commercials were rolling for viewers on TV.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
But Steyer may have hit a ceiling in the amount his ads could influence voter behavior.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Several factors can influence a man’s likelihood of developing the potentially deadly disease, including age, a family history of breast cancer and being overweight, the CDC says.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
Verb
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But another four or five weeks of games can inform Weiss and Anthopoulos’ own answer.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
-
McGregor Scott, Williamson’s attorney, said he had not been informed of any other investigations involving his client.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
News that his son uses his dad's popular acting roles to impress the girls in his class.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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With little money or reputation, Griffin often hired inexperienced people who had impressed him in interviews, including Yeh, a graduate student in theoretical physics, and Beeson, a cop’s son who had studied accounting on a scholarship at DePaul.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Verb
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And the indie is committed to connecting writers and editors who’ve been impacted by the carceral system with those who have not.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Cities impacted by the severe thunderstorm warning include Maysville, King City, Union Star, Cosby, Weatherby, Mcfall, Amity, Fairport, Ford City, Helena and Santa Rosa.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
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Over the years, Bush has touched the lives of many metro residents and has received community support to assist in her work.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This year’s Shakespeare in the Park season opens with a Romeo and Juliet set against the striking backdrop of a desert border wall.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
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Keinon Carter and his friend Antonio Brown emerged from the restroom to investigate the sound, only to be suddenly struck by a line of bullets.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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