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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of telltale
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
Many of them were topped with ominous radar images or a telltale swirl with a colorful eye.
—Madeleine Marr Miami Herald (tns), al, 23 Aug. 2023
To him, any piece of a ship is a telltale: How it was constructed speaks volumes about where and when a ship was built.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 9 July 2023
Noun
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
Many of them were topped with ominous radar images or a telltale swirl with a colorful eye.
—Madeleine Marr Miami Herald (tns), al, 23 Aug. 2023
To him, any piece of a ship is a telltale: How it was constructed speaks volumes about where and when a ship was built.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 9 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for telltale
Adjective
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Billions Club Live with The Weeknd: A Concert Film is indicative of a new era of Spotify, which has been in the works for some time.Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025
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The pieces were indicative of the people living in the area at the time, with the elements carefully carved into scrapers, axes and dagger blades, according to the release.Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s remarks follow last month’s inspector general report from the Biden Justice Department, which detailed the FBI’s use of confidential informants and prompted questions about their roles in the Jan. 6 protest.Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Jan. 2025
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On one occasion, authorities say, the informant handed over to the FBI a plastic foam cup containing a granular substance that tested positive for drugs.CBS News, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For years, experts have noted that these measurements are not standardized, can vary by day and time, and are not reflective of a person's overall fluoride exposure.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 7 Jan. 2025
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Charly's playful knack for finding the best lounging spots is reflective of the breed's charming characteristics.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Kids will hear whispers through the gossip network, or notice if a friend-of-a-friend has started to isolate.Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Jan. 2025
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Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Jenna Bush Hager is a good sport about her thirst traps going viral.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Given the increasingly absurd pretexts the state is using for criminal prosecution and the resounding success of informers of all stripes, the judicial crackdown will continue to worsen.Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2024
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Standing in his way are British spies, French informers and jealous colleagues.Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Cats, however, may turn out to be the canaries in the coalmines — pardon the mixed metaphor.Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024
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There is a loud warning in all of this, and Batman is sort of the canary in the coal mine.Mark Hughes, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Studies dating back to the 1980s suggested a link between Red Dye No. 3 and cancer in lab rats, raising alarms about its safety.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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While the agency says that studies show the way Red 3 causes cancer in rats does not occur in humans, the law still requires additives that cause cancer in animals to be pulled from the market even if they are not proven to pose a risk to humans as well.Alexander Tin, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near telltale
Cite this Entry
“Telltale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/telltale. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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