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
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That consequently influences much of the rest of the curriculum.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026 -
Traders came into 2026 forecasting several cuts to the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, which influences rates for mortgages and other loans.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Karim just talks to the camera about elephants in a conversational tone.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Karim simply talks to his camera in a conversational tone about the elephants at the San Diego Zoo.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Avoid Transplant Shock Transplanting a hydrangea at the wrong time of year stresses the plant and affects the next bloom.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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In 2010, the Hamden mother was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs and lymph nodes.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gavrilovska reflects on Pynchon’s long career and his interest in writing about systems, how his time as a technical writer at Boeing informs his work, his classic novels Gravity’s Rainbow and The Crying of Lot 49, and his new novel, Shadow Ticket.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
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Luna, the latest in Norwegian’s Prima Plus Class, takes inspiration from space – a theme that informs the design, amenities and programming.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The streak certainly impresses goaltender Scott Wedgewood.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Offensive line impresses Despite starting tackle Ryan Hughes and left guard Cade Bennett being held out of practice, TCU’s offensive line had a strong opening day of camp.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israeli innovation impacts people around the world every day in fields such as cybersecurity, fintech and agriculture.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Some researchers argue that PCOS should be considered a metabolic disease that impacts hormone levels, insulin resistance, and more.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Becky Shaw touches something tender and doesn't stop there.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
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The restaurant doesn’t represent a single Asian cuisine but touches many cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian among them.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 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 8 Apr. 2026.
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