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

Derived Forms

• ˈtellingly, adverb

Other Words From

• telling·ly adverb
• un·telling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of telling¹

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

Example Sentences

“It was the first time we were able to touch that emotion. We’d been too busy telling the story to feel it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Tuesday declined to say that it would be part of the rules package, telling reporters that lawmakers would seek consensus as they approach the "unprecedented" issue.

From BBC

I have made a career telling other people’s stories but this seemed like a time to tell my own.

From BBC

Netflix executives say their commitment to telling authentic local stories has helped them gain the trust of creators.

From Los Angeles Times

People who use Instagram can already have some impact on what is recommended to them by telling the algorithm whether they are interested in posts they see or not.

From BBC

Related Words

• cogent
• conspicuous
• convincing
• decisive
• devastating
• forceful
• powerful
• satisfying
• striking
• trenchant