as in indicative
indicating something
I know you've been eating chocolate because of the telltale smudges on your face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in gossiper
a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
the media's professional telltales have basically decided that today's celebrities have no right to privacy
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in informant
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
the department telltale told the boss that his coworkers were taking extra long breaks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of telltale
Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
After two months, there was an average 45% increase in new eyelash growth without the telltale darkening of skin and eye color that often comes with PGA formulas.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025
Tents selling fireworks all over the county are opening and the telltale pops, booms and bangs can be heard far and wide leading up to Independence Day.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 22 June 2024
The only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
The thief slowly turns the dial, listening for the telltale clicks or resistance that might hint at the inner workings of the safe's gears and reveal its combination.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 21 June 2020
Photo: Courtesy of Neon Spectators at the crash scene in 1957 reported hearing the telltale hiss of a tire blowing out.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2024
The initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
And in the following days, astronomers saw the telltale reddening of a kilonova in the same spot as the gamma-ray burst.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Noun
Check for telltale thinning at the crown and temples; broken, frizzy bits at ear and chin level; as well as shorter strands at the nape of the neck that look shredded or wispy.
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
After two months, there was an average 45% increase in new eyelash growth without the telltale darkening of skin and eye color that often comes with PGA formulas.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025
Tents selling fireworks all over the county are opening and the telltale pops, booms and bangs can be heard far and wide leading up to Independence Day.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 22 June 2024
The only telltale is the small 350e badge on the back.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
The thief slowly turns the dial, listening for the telltale clicks or resistance that might hint at the inner workings of the safe's gears and reveal its combination.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 21 June 2020
Photo: Courtesy of Neon Spectators at the crash scene in 1957 reported hearing the telltale hiss of a tire blowing out.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2024
The initial telltale symptom of the plague is an extremely swollen lymph node, according to Adalja.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024
And in the following days, astronomers saw the telltale reddening of a kilonova in the same spot as the gamma-ray burst.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telltale
Adjective
-
With this in mind, high school students should be keenly aware that a particular teacher’s AI policies should not be viewed as indicative of all teachers’ attitudes or policies.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
Charter head: 'City Hall simply isn't listening' Steve Goodin, convener of the Cincinnati Charter Committee, sees the large field as indicative as people wanting change.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
The defendants suggested one of the informants is either someone in current House Speaker Cameron Sexton's office – or is the speaker himself.—
Rosalind Bowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
Encouragingly, this discernment may translate to digital informants like computers too.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Faculty at Ivy League and other top schools are encouraged to revisit their course policies regularly, experiment with new pedagogical methods, and guide students through the process of using AI in responsible, reflective ways.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
On July 5, the low angle of the sun will cast prominent shadows along the eastern rim of the impact crater, while highlighting reflective debris streaks known as ejecta rays that were cast out during its creation some 800 million years ago.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Besides the usual weather report and family gossip, Fanny’s father was consistently supportive of her writing, urging her not to rush through life too quickly, offering gentle advice in tough times without pretending to know it all, full of that Howe family wit and humor.—
Ezra Fox
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
-
More gossip was unleashed when Albert was photographed with his son Alexandre Grimaldi, daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Nicole Coste, Alexandre’s mother, in 2023.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The Nazis set up secret squads in the camps to conduct beatings and killings of prisoners thought to be too friendly with U.S. officials or were accused of being informers.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
-
Reporting from human intelligence assets – spies or unwitting informers with firsthand or secondhand knowledge – may provide information on internal Iranian assessments.—
Joshua Rovner,
The Conversation,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
The music world is simply the latest canary in the coalmine.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
Talent opting out of top jobs is a canary in the coal mine.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
The dye was linked to thyroid cancer risks in rats as well as behavioral issues in children such as hyperactivity.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
Fulton County was reported to have 318 rodents for every 1,000 homes, while Susquehanna County was found to have 301 mice and rats per 1,000 housing units.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The three courses finished on Dec. 9, according to the online course catalog. Reached on his cellphone Friday, Snyder declined to comment and directed an Idaho Statesman reporter to the university.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2025
-
Other congressional reporters arriving at Capitol Hill today passed these exhausted Senate reporters on their way out.—
Mackenzie Thomas,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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