telling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈte-liŋ How to pronounce telling (audio)
Definition of tellingnext
as in convincing
having the power to persuade presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

telling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tell
1
as in describing
to give an oral or written account of in some detail they told the story of how they had met

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in counting
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in informing
to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority told us to sit still and wait

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in disclosing
to make known (as information previously kept secret) I won't tell your secret to anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word telling different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of telling are cogent, convincing, sound, and valid. While all these words mean "having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance," telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

a telling example of bureaucratic waste

When would cogent be a good substitute for telling?

Although the words cogent and telling have much in common, cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

When is it sensible to use convincing instead of telling?

The synonyms convincing and telling are sometimes interchangeable, but convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

a convincing argument for welfare reform

When is sound a more appropriate choice than telling?

The words sound and telling can be used in similar contexts, but sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

a sound proposal for reviving the economy

Where would valid be a reasonable alternative to telling?

While the synonyms valid and telling are close in meaning, valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

a valid reason for being absent
a valid marriage

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of telling
Adjective
Perhaps the most telling trend is the return of whimsy. —Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026 The most telling thing about time-traveling back to 2016 online, Maddox said, is the polarized response to the trend itself. —Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
Students can ask for help discreetly, Ligon said, by using a student app or telling a social worker or teacher. —Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 In early 2025, right-wing influencers roamed downtown Nuuk, handing out $100 bills to children and telling them to pose for cameras while wearing free MAGA swag. —Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for telling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling
  1. convincing
  2. describing
  3. saying
  4. counting
  5. informing
  6. instructing
  7. disclosing
  8. compelling
Adjective
  • Experts say the rise of AI has dramatically lowered the barrier to fraud, allowing scammers to create convincing websites, clone official logos, and even replicate QR codes from legitimate sources.
    — Maria Salette Ontiveros, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Andrews, who was not involved in the Kanzi study, said the results were convincing.
    — Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of convincing
Verb
  • Austin, 13, can be heard calmly describing the situation and asking for a helicopter to search for his mother and two siblings in a recording released by the Western Australia Police Force on Wednesday.
    — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The other agents in the car continued to lie when describing the circumstances of the shooting to the FBI, including in a diagram that purported to show three cars in front of the agents’ Tahoe blocking them from moving forward.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of describing
Verb
  • In an appearance on Fox News, the Trump-supporting singer bashed the choice of Bunny, saying the performance was an insult to the MAGA movement.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Piagentini dismissed those factors as beside the point, saying judges should trust juries’ sentencing decisions and that Davis’ ruling disrespected the jury process.
    — Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of saying
Verb
  • Not counting preventive care and three covered primary care doctor visits, that spending target must be met before a policy’s other coverage kicks in.
    — Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
  • In all, Heat players previously have made 14 appearances in the 3-point contest, when counting the two appearances apiece by Jon Sunvold, Glen Rice, Daequan Cook, Jones and Herro, and single appearances by Kapono, Mario Chalmers, Duncan Robinson and current Heat assistant coach Wayne Ellington.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of counting
Verb
  • Throughout the morning, Escobar shared a series of tweets informing the public of the airlift status.
    — Robbie Farias, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Applicants will receive a letter in the mail before the end of March informing them whether or not they have been approved, according to the email.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of informing
Verb
  • Instead, Elordi’s Heathcliff collars and chains Oliver’s Isabella herself, instructing her to bark like a dog.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Parent Teacher Association officials in one of the wealthiest school districts in the country hosted a training session last month instructing families on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of instructing
Verb
  • Dating is the process of getting to know someone, and disclosing yourself to them is essential to establishing close bonds — and eventually, possibly, feelings of romantic love.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Callella has been arrested on suspicion of transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of disclosing
Adjective
  • The minibar is a compelling decorative touch on its own, set inside a dedicated cupboard and features an array of local, gourmet snacks, antiqued wine and cocktail glasses, and an anniversary edition of the 1935 Illy espresso machine for your morning and afternoon coffees.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • As a means of generating its own conceptions of goodness that feel compelling to most human beings, its record is quite mixed, perhaps because that’s not what it was ever designed to do.
    — Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of compelling

Browse Nearby Words

tellies
telling
telling (of)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on telling

Nglish: Translation of telling for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All