telling
adjective
tell·ing ˈte-liŋ 
: carrying great weight and producing a marked effect : effective, expressive
the most telling evidence
tellingly
ˈte-liŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- cogent
- compelling
- conclusive
- convincing
- decisive
- effective
- forceful
- persuasive
- satisfying
- strong
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Her experience is a telling example of why the nation's educational system needs to be changed. The most telling moment in the case was when the victim took the stand.
Recent Examples on the Web Eager to explain the chip on his shoulder that’s about to wreck this relationship, the screenplay now does a lot more telling than showing. 
John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Their other big move was more surprising, and also quite telling. WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 But the officers' body cam footage would provide the most telling account yet of how the shooting began. Thomas Birmingham, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 Its most telling finding is that an overwhelming majority (91%) of adults 21 years old and over, consume cannabis for health and wellness purposes. Iris Dorbian, Forbes, 8 June 2022 Channel 9 has all but confirmed the new cast of MAFS, but some very telling pap pics published by Daily Mail Australia seem to give away the identities of some of the brides. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 17 Aug. 2022 But perhaps more impressive and telling than its rapidly growing viewership is the show's digital footprint. Olachi Ihekwaba, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 But tense might not be the most telling in the end. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 Of all the names Biden invoked, perhaps the most telling was Strom Thurmond -- former governor of South Carolina, longtime US Senator and failed presidential candidate. Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 18 Jan. 2022 See More
John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Their other big move was more surprising, and also quite telling. WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 But the officers' body cam footage would provide the most telling account yet of how the shooting began. Thomas Birmingham, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 Its most telling finding is that an overwhelming majority (91%) of adults 21 years old and over, consume cannabis for health and wellness purposes. Iris Dorbian, Forbes, 8 June 2022 Channel 9 has all but confirmed the new cast of MAFS, but some very telling pap pics published by Daily Mail Australia seem to give away the identities of some of the brides. Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 17 Aug. 2022 But perhaps more impressive and telling than its rapidly growing viewership is the show's digital footprint. Olachi Ihekwaba, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 But tense might not be the most telling in the end. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 Of all the names Biden invoked, perhaps the most telling was Strom Thurmond -- former governor of South Carolina, longtime US Senator and failed presidential candidate. Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 18 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1819, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing telling
telling 1 of 2
adjective
as in convincing
having the power to persuade presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- convincing
- compelling
- conclusive
- strong
- persuasive
- satisfying
- valid
- decisive
- effective
- cogent
- forceful
- definitive
- important
- authoritative
- sound
- relevant
- significant
- pertinent
- material
- weighty
- well-founded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unconvincing
- inconclusive
- ineffective
- irrelevant
- indecisive
- unfounded
- unimportant
- insignificant
- shaky
- invalid
- unpersuasive
- immaterial
- inconsequential
- groundless
- uncompelling
- unsound
- weak
- feeble
telling
2 of 2verb
1
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
- describing
- recounting
- narrating
- chronicling
- relating
- reporting
- reciting
- stating
- depicting
- detailing
- voicing
- charting
- rehearsing
- setting forth
- revealing
- disclosing
- expressing
- divulging
- uttering
- exposing
- giving
- enumerating
- delivering
- baring
- itemizing
- particularizing
- rendering
- delineating
- sketching
- reeling off
- letting on (about)
2
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart Synonyms & Similar Words
- saying
- talking
- speaking
- uttering
- discussing
- sharing
- stating
- announcing
- articulating
- shouting
- giving
- verbalizing
- whispering
- posting
- vocalizing
- publishing
- voicing
- passing
- enunciating
- declaring
- proclaiming
- bringing out
- putting
- looking
- affirming
- asserting
- blurting
- advertising
- sounding
- commenting
- publicizing
- airing
- alleging
- broadcasting
- promulgating
- putting into words
- remarking
- blabbering
- ventilating
- venting
- breathing
- murmuring
- mouthing
- phrasing
- spouting
- formulating
- gasping
- avowing
- chirping
- wording
- getting off
- drawling
- shooting
- blazing
- averring
- purring
- clothing
- bolting
- lipping
- avouching
- snarling
- spluttering
- formulizing
- couching
- ripping (out)
- piping up (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suppressing
- stifling
3
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
- counting
- checking
- computing
- calculating
- enumerating
- numbering
- recounting
- tabulating
- tallying
- marking
- reckoning
- totaling
- tabling
- totalling
- adding (up)
- ticking (off)
4
as in informing
to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin? Synonyms & Similar Words
- informing
- advising
- instructing
- briefing
- teaching
- educating
- alerting
- notifying
- enlightening
- apprising
- acquainting
- familiarizing
- convincing
- clearing
- versing
- reassuring
- filling in
- lecturing
- assuring
- hipping
- advertising
- catching up
- letting someone know
- clueing (in)
- cluing (in)
- wising (up)
- keeping (someone) posted
- certifying
- warranting
- disillusioning
- disabusing
- schooling
- tutoring
- disclosing (to)
- announcing (to)
- disenchanting
- undeceiving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misleading
- misinforming
5
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority told us to sit still and wait Synonyms & Similar Words
- instructing
- asking
- ordering
- commanding
- warning
- advising
- begging
- directing
- bidding
- requesting
- enjoining
- charging
- adjuring
- petitioning
- appointing
- requiring
- beseeching
- forcing
- compelling
- bossing (around)
- entreating
- authorizing
- assigning
- controlling
- supervising
- managing
- leading
- coercing
- commissioning
- counseling
- obliging
- constraining
- overseeing
- conducting
- counselling
- superintending
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obeying
- observing
- following
- keeping
- minding
- complying (with)
6
as in revealing
to make known (as information previously kept secret) I won't tell your secret to anyone Synonyms & Similar Words
- revealing
- disclosing
- discovering
- uncovering
- announcing
- sharing
- exposing
- divulging
- spilling
- baring
- unveiling
- confiding
- unmasking
- proclaiming
- informing
- acknowledging
- leaking
- publishing
- unbosoming
- posting
- advertising
- confessing
- bringing to light
- talking
- letting the cat out of the bag (about)
- declaring
- letting on (about)
- promulgating
- publicizing
- uncloaking
- betraying
- debunking
- spilling the beans (about)
- going public (with)
- communicating
- blabbing
- admitting
- relating
- broadcasting
- imparting
- unearthing
- owning
- undraping
- bringing out
- showing up
- conceding
- unclothing
- sounding
- avowing
- disinterring
- squealing
- placarding
- blazing
- giving away
- smoking out
- raking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- concealing
- hiding
- covering (up)
- masking
- disguising
- camouflaging
- shrouding
- enshrouding
- cloaking
- veiling
- obscuring
- whitewashing
- overshadowing
- glossing (over)
- varnishing
- clouding
- shading
- darkening
- beclouding
- eclipsing
- gilding
- overcasting
- bedimming
- befogging
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
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
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