1
as in influences
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 talks
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 tells (on)
Verb
-
The study found that locomotion strongly influences handedness patterns across primates.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026 -
Xu notes that as enterprises evaluate how technology influences cost structures, efficiency, and competitive positioning, leadership criteria are evolving alongside them.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Klaus talks to his sister in California on an elegant brass and Bakelite 1940s telephone (the props are divine throughout), complete with operator interruptions.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Our correspondent talks to him.—
Greg Dixon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Cambria executives say the disease affects workers at countertop businesses that cut raw slabs on the cheap without the necessary protections, and that its workers cut the product safely.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
17 May 2026
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Cancer affects one in four people around the world.—
Bettina Zilkha,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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From bougainvillea pink to garden greens, see how nature informs designer Peter Dunham's fearless use of color and pattern.—
Eleni N. Gage,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
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Inside, the metal drive-mode knob is treated to a red anodized finish, which also informs the color of the contrast stitching, seatbelts, headrest embroidery, and piping.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Today, the park impresses with its modern engineering and renowned aesthetics.—
Zachary Laks,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
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More than just its scale, though, the project impresses with its use of recycled materials, including everything from wind turbine blades to old windows.—
Adam Williams
May 09,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Reputation impacts conversion, retention, hiring and resilience in critical moments.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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And that class consists of three drivers — a five-time weekly series national champion, a Cup Series champion and a driver whose work as an ambassador of the sport after his racing days were done still impacts NASCAR today.—
Jeff Siner,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
Verb
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All of this goes down before even one Louboutin touches the surgically clean white marble floor or ultra-plush Yves Klein blue carpet within the monumental lobby.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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Other notable moments include the return of the original theme song, sung by Raya Yarbrough; the closing of the loop from the pilot episode, showing Jamie was the man outside Claire’s window watching her; and the beautiful forget-me-nots growing near the stones after Jamie touches one.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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