TELLING Synonyms: 281 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

telling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈte-liŋ

Definition of telling

as in convincing

having the power to persuade presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

telling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tell

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

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

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

as in informing

to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in disclosing

to make known (as information previously kept secret) I won't tell your secret to anyone

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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

The Hurricanes’ performance on Friday was pretty telling, too. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 The farm equipment just went up for auction, and the timing couldn’t be more telling. — Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Right now, the market appears to be telling us that the kindergartner is ravenous and investing for the next 10 years could come with some considerable risk. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 On the other hand, the fact that Shakespeare chose to make Shylock a resident of Venice is a telling illustration of the Ghetto’s profoundly international character. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for telling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for telling

Adjective

The show doesn’t mount a convincing case that there is more to him than that.

— Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Be suspicious of unexpected security alerts A real cybersecurity incident gives scammers an opportunity to send convincing fake breach notifications.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of convincing

Verb

Paxton has contrasted himself and Talarico from the campaign trail — describing the Democrat as radical — and touts his work as attorney general, including battling big government and big corporations.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
Trump opened his remarks there by describing how the new jet parked behind him was a gift from the Qatari royal family.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of describing

Verb

Sandrich also spoke about the importance of audiences seeing themselves reflected on screen, saying that the series’ commitment to authentic casting extended to changing a character’s gender to get the casting right.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, officers are pushing back, saying the cuts will hurt public safety.

— Veronica Macias, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of saying

Verb

In 2020, following Election Day, a crowd stormed a vote-counting center in Detroit, many incited by online conspiracy theories about election fraud.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
In 2020, after election day, a crowd stormed a vote-counting center in Detroit, many incited by online conspiracy theories about election fraud.

— Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of counting

Verb

The mass sampling and real-time information gathering on prediction markets can extend their utility to informing business decisions, according to Zitzewitz.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Intarsia cashmere, combinations of leather and chiffon, and silk knitwear are areas of interest, with softness and lightness informing the broader wardrobe.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of informing

Verb

Biola University has been instructing students in film and television for a half century, but this week, the school just south of Los Angeles enters a whole new era.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
In the case of existing worms, the software is simply hard-coded to copy itself through computer networks or to spread by instructing infected computers to send emails containing copies of the malware.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of instructing

Adjective

Kendall Jenner and Hunter Schafer, in Valentino and Prada, respectively, wore two of the evening’s most compelling arguments for black and white evening attire.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Oct. 2026
Fielder started in the realm of absurdist comedy, and with the Holmes project moves into a world of watercooler high crimes and compelling fourth-wall breaking.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of compelling

Browse Nearby Words

tellies

telling

telling (of)

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Style

“Telling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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