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
-
To Pimp a Butterfly and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers are indicative of that.—
Taylor Crumpton,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The team used a process called 3D microscopy to map the cuts, and found that many were indicative of the removal of muscle bundles, the brain and marrow from inside the bones, according to the release.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Over six months, the office turned into a hub for nearly 20 hardcore criminals, bikers and gang members, as well as high-flying lawyers, businessmen and major contractors, all involved in tax fraud, disposal of contaminated soil, money laundering and sometimes even torture of informants.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The investigation started with a tip from a confidential informant, police said.—
Nate Gartrell,
The Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Pete was a gentle spirit, creative, inquisitive, and reflective.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The numbers are reflective of the historic season delivered by Barkely, who, in his first year since leaving the Giants, totaled 15 touchdowns in the regular seasons and has five more in the playoffs.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
When the hotel opened in 1904, its founding matriarch and Gilded Age socialite Caroline Astor took a liking to having afternoon tea served on-property (specifically to her closest friends in the drawing room for society gossip).—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Send your questions, comments and gossip to LAontheRecord@latimes.com.—
Tony Barboza,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Ukrainian soldiers began to see Russian civilians as a hindrance — or worse, as potential informers who could give away their positions.—
Ekaterina Bodyagina Nanna Heitmann,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The arrests were part of wide-ranging Establishment attacks on the new generation of pop stars in Britain at the time, done through connivance with informers and a hostile conservative media.—
Bill Wyman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
This situation makes the NIH a golden goose for universities, and also a canary in a coal mine.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2025
-
In short, the Amazon is the planet’s canary in the coal mine—its health is directly tied to its survival.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Infected rats likely brought the disease from steamships to the shore.—
Sarah Holzmann,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Rather than removing the rodents that are already in cities, the strongest rat management strategies tend to make city survival more challenging, removing the trash and the clutter on which rats rely.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near telltale
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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