TELL (ON) Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

tell (on)

verb

Definition of tell (on)

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

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

Child welfare officials have said a reduction in Sunshine’s beds would significantly affect the state’s ability to place children in homes and would likely lead to siblings in foster care being split up and sent to different homes.

— Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Hunger can obviously affect a child’s health, concentration, academic performance and long-term development.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

For those who take pride in their pouty lips (or their ability to talk their way out of just about anything), a swipe of lipstick and nothing else is a cool way to look put together without the hustle of actually putting yourself together.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026
Despite 40-plus years of dazzling red-carpet moments—and two decades since becoming the first Arab designer on the official Paris haute couture calendar—in real life Elie Saab is still more comfortable letting his runway do the talking for him.

— Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of talk

Verb

Physical activity, blood pressure, hearing loss, smoking, social isolation, sleep, nutrition, stress management and recovery can all influence our long-term health.

— Mick Safron, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
In the 19th century, flamenco dancers began using the abanico as an expressive prop, as Cuban song and dance styles such as the guajira influenced the dance form.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of influence

Verb

Stewart doesn’t make excuses for missing the targets, even though Goodyear’s business, like many, has been impacted by tariffs, inflated raw material costs, and the expansion of cheaper Chinese products.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Before Turner, cattle grazing, logging, and mining impacted portions of the property for decades.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of impact

Verb

Officials say no human contact with the bat is known but urge anyone touched by a bat near Curry Village around May 18 to seek immediate medical advice, noting rabies is fatal yet preventable.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Once parts are cut, technicians will use non-destructive sensors to inspect their internal density and geometry without touching the sensitive surfaces.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of touch

Verb

Minnesota prosecutors allege Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking Sosa-Celis while six people, including two children, were inside.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
The chip company closed a similar deal last month, striking a $6 billion structured agreement with Poolside, an open-weight model builder.

— Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of strike

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

tell off

tell (on)

tells

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tell (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes