TELLING (ON) Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

telling (on)

verb

Definition of telling (on)

present participle of tell (on)

as in affecting

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in talking

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 telling (on)

Verb

Over the past decade, cyberattacks against the education sector have risen expeditiously, exposing sensitive data, temporarily disrupting school operations and affecting students' learning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that has far-reaching impacts across the planet, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of people.

— Lauren Sommer, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of affecting

Verb

The time that sales reps used to spend talking to customers is now used to update systems.

— Kylie Fuentes, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
She was elected and spent last year talking to university administrators and Greek life representatives to try to advocate for more transparency.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of talking

Verb

Without the financial incentive markets provide, social pressure and community biases play more of a role in influencing opinion.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Six students who spoke to the Herald said Donalds’ bid to become Florida’s first Black governor was not influencing their decision.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of influencing

Verb

There’s a slapstick nature to that place where there’s just stuff, and all the stuff is informing this great desire to just try things.

— Christine Werthman, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026
These innovations point towards a future where transformers assist patients in informing them of risks with different types of medications.

— Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of informing

Verb

At 6-3, 255 pounds, Howell was one of several top pass rushers in the draft who was dinged for arm length but is already impressing with varied rushes through the first two weeks.

— PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
The third-round pick out of USC was one of the stars of Ravens training camp, impressing in practices and scoring a touchdown in the team’s first preseason game.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of impressing

Verb

Police also connected him to four other subsequent incidents of forcible touching in the Bronx.

— Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
It is said that touching the polished engravings of the event placed at the pedestal of the Nepomuk statue will bring luck and ensure a return to Prague.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of touching

Verb

Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight, striking Kyiv and eight other regions, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Instead of striking the target with an explosive warhead, the laser transfers energy into the target’s surface.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of striking

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.

Browse Nearby Words

telling off

telling (on)

tell (of)

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“Telling (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling%20%28on%29. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of telling (on)

verb

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