tell (on)

verb

Definition of tell (on)next
1
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to talk
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell (on)
  1. affect
  2. talk
  3. influence
  4. impress
  5. inform
  6. impact
  7. touch
  8. strike
Verb
  • The tax relief applies to individuals and businesses in southern California affected by wildfires and straight-line winds that began Jan. 7.
    — Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • This decision will jeopardize our national security and significantly affect and damage the economies of numerous communities nationwide.
    — Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Backstreet Boys talk Las Vegas Sphere residency Support the Short List andbecome a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y’all.
    — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of talk
Verb
  • The fashion scene during these decades was significantly influenced by music, film and cultural shifts — echoing global movements.
    — Fairchild Studio, WWD, 22 Feb. 2025
  • But Lipkin-Connor is careful not to be overly influenced by the past.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of influence
Verb
  • After all, the couple reportedly met while filming the 1999 comedy, in which Adam's character Sonny adopts a five-year-old boy (portrayed by the Sprouse twins) to impress a girl.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2025
  • On Thursday, the Kremlin said it was impressed by Trump's approach to resolving the war.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of impress
Verb
  • They were informed earlier this week that their superstar center, Victor Wembanyama, is ruled out for the rest of the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
    — Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have said that the players have been informed of the decision.
    — Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of inform
Verb
  • House said the biggest concern for the company is all of these actions that appear relatively minimal, including on suppliers, combining to negatively impact the automaker’s business.
    — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
  • In addition to farmers, other Americans and American goods (e.g., medical products, water supplies, farming equipment) are directly impacted.
    — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2025
Definition of impact
Verb
  • In the footage, which is circulating on social media, a man is seen touching the fish and attempting to put the animal back in the water.
    — Jessica Botelho, Baltimore Sun, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Molloy said Wednesday that people who find debris in their yards should not touch it.
    — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of touch
Verb
  • The chances of a giant space rock striking the Earth have decreased, but NASA and other space agencies are still devising a plan to obliterate it.
    — Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Watching an octogenarian president heavily implied to be a Democrat struggle to form sentences strikes a nerve, but for the most part, De Niro’s take is too taciturn and quietly dignified to inspire much emotion.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of strike
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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tell (on)
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“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

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