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

She wandered in and she saw me watching the last five minutes of the movie when the presses are rolling, and the story’s finally going, and they’re telling you what happened.

Read more on Salon

"I am both disappointed and surprised by what he has to say", Shah replied, telling the committee that he had a "26 minute call" with Banerji on Sunday.

Read more on BBC

A Jewish former classmate of Nigel Farage has told the BBC the Reform UK leader is being "fundamentally dishonest" by suggesting former pupils who say they witnessed his racism are not telling the truth.

Read more on BBC

My grandmother spent all her time telling me how to live and dress.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The stuff I’m telling you is complex and difficult, and the stuff that the viewer sees is not, and that’s part of the magic of it,” Hall, who managed the parade for 12 years, said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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