telling

[tel-ing]

adjective

1. having force or effect; effective; striking.

   a telling blow.

   Synonyms: weighty, potent, forceful, powerful

2. revealing; indicative of much otherwise unnoticed.

   a telling analysis of motivation in business.

telling

/ ˈtɛlɪŋ /

adjective

1. having a marked effect or impact

   a telling blow

2. revealing

   a telling smile

Other Word Forms

• tellingly adverb
• untelling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of telling¹

First recorded in 1850–55; tell ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Aitken added: "Anyone who is telling you that asylum seekers and refugees are prioritised by the SNP, by the Scottish government, or by this council is lying to you. It is simply not true."

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One Young Conservative sought to offer some good news by telling the event that at Keele University the Conservative Society now had the biggest membership in a decade.

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The justice was not happy when Stevenson said a therapist is permitted to help a client “cope with their feelings,” but that telling the kid he could un-gay his thoughts was banned.

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But her reflexively partisan response to the razing of Judge Goodstein’s home is telling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone pushed back on the notion that deer pose a fire hazard, telling the supervisor he believes the animals mitigate fire risks by eating vegetation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cogent 
• conspicuous 
• convincing 
• decisive 
• devastating 
• forceful 
• powerful 
• satisfying www.thesaurus.com
• striking 
• trenchant