tattletale
Tells on others
A tattletale is someone who reports another person's wrongdoing to an authority—a child who runs to tell the teacher, an employee who informs management.
The word carries childish connotations and implies the reporting is petty or self-serving rather than principled: Don't be a tattletale.
As an adjective, tattletale describes things that reveal what someone wanted hidden: tattletale signs of a late night out.
One who tells authorities
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- squealerOne who betrays secrets
- ratRodent or informer
- finkContemptible informer
nark · blab · snitcher · crybaby · whiner · playground · sibling · teacher's pet
One who tells authorities
- ratRodent or informer
- finkContemptible informer
- stoolieInformal police informant
- narkPolice tipster, slang
informant · squealer · spy · mole · source · tipster · leak · insider
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- buzzContinuous low drone
chatter · blabbermouth · gossipmonger · yenta · busybody · backbiting · dirt · juicy
Disloyal pretend ally
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
traitor · two-timer · sneak · disloyal · treacherous · perfidious · quisling · defector
Secretly cautious in movement
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- slyCleverly deceptive
- covertIntentionally concealed
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
secretive · conniving · devious · shifty · surreptitious · crafty · behind your back · two-faced
Make known publicly
- leakEscape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- transparencyState of being see-through
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
corruption · insider · testimony · retaliation · protection · ethics · integrity · watchdog
snitch
One who tells authorities
- blabbermouthOne who reveals secrets
- squealerOne who betrays secrets
- ratRodent or informer
fink · nark · blab · snitcher · crybaby · whiner · playground · sibling · teacher's pet · goody-goody
snitch
One who tells authorities
nark · informant · squealer · spy · mole · source · tipster · leak · insider · undercover
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
buzz · chatter · blabbermouth · gossipmonger · yenta · busybody · backbiting · dirt · juicy · teatime
backstabber
Disloyal pretend ally
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
Judas · traitor · two-timer · sneak · disloyal · treacherous · perfidious · quisling · defector · renegade
stealthy
Secretly cautious in movement
underhanded · secretive · conniving · devious · shifty · surreptitious · crafty · behind your back · two-faced · scheming
expose
Make known publicly
- leakEscape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- transparencyState of being see-through
accountability · corruption · insider · testimony · retaliation · protection · ethics · integrity · watchdog · oversight
- blabbermouthsblabbermouth, gossipmonger, rumormonger, scandalmonger, bigmouth
- nosy peoplebusybody, snoop, snooper, meddler, eavesdropper
- compound slangairhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, dimwit
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- kidspeakboo-boo, booboo, cooties, gimme, gonna
- Playground Insultsbaby, brat, crybaby, dummy, dork
tattletaleconfidant
Trusted keeper of secrets
keeper of secrets · vault · tight-lipped · closemouthed · mum
tattletaleloyal friend
Devoted, reliable companion
ride-or-die · solid · co-conspirator · accomplice · enabler
tattletaleloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
stand-up guy · solid · ride-or-die · true friend · trustworthy