having a powerful or striking effect, revealing or indicating something

Formal and Informal Expressions of telling

In different contexts, you can replace 'telling' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'revealing, indicating' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'showing, pointing to' is a commonplace synonym.

telling: Explore its Definition & Usage

telling Definition

1having a powerful or striking effect
2revealing or indicating something

Using telling: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "telling" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The silence was telling of their disappointment.
Example
Her facial expression was telling of her true feelings.
Example
The statistics are telling of the current state of the economy.

telling Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for telling

Antonyms for telling

Phrases with telling

tell on
to reveal someone's wrongdoing or misdeed to an authority figure
Example
I'm afraid I'll have to tell on you if you don't stop cheating on the exams.
tell apart
to distinguish one thing from another
Example
It's hard to tell the twins apart because they look so similar.
tell off
to scold or reprimand someone
Example
The teacher told off the students for not paying attention in class.

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Summary: telling in Brief

The adjective 'telling' [ˈtɛlɪŋ] describes something that has a powerful or striking effect, or reveals or indicates something. It is often used to describe nonverbal cues or data that reveal information, as in 'Her facial expression was telling of her true feelings.' 'Telling' can also be used in phrases like 'tell on,' meaning to reveal someone's wrongdoing, and 'tell apart,' meaning to distinguish one thing from another.