telling
Hard to ignore
Telling describes something that reveals more than intended or expected—a telling detail, a telling remark, a telling silence.
The word suggests significance: what's telling provides insight or evidence.
A telling blow is one that has effect.
The noun telling means a recounting: in the telling of the story.
There's no telling what might happen means it's impossible to predict.
Recounting events aloud
- recountingNarrating events from memory
- relatingConcerning or connecting
- narratingTelling events aloud
- recitingSpeaking learned text aloud
describing · reporting · chronicling · detailing · conveying · imparting · sharing · spinning
Noticeably impressive
- powerfulHaving great strength
- significantHaving notable importance
- effectiveProducing intended results
- forcefulExerting strong pressure
compelling · decisive · damning · devastating · crushing · pointed · cutting · incisive
Make something visible
- discloseReveal hidden information
- exposeMake known publicly
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
- divulgeReveal private information
betray · giveaway · indicator · sign · symptom · clue · evidence · proof
Intensely clear and bright
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
- evocativeTending to summon memories
- poignantEvoking keen emotion
- descriptivePortraying with specific details
illustrative · articulate · dramatic · animated · emotive · graphic · pictorial · suggestive
Summing items systematically
- numberingAssigning sequential figures
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
- enumeratingListing things systematically
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
totaling · calculating · cashier · polling · voting · ballot
Communicating information formally
- advisingGiving informed guidance
- briefingConcise information session
- updatingMaking something current
- communicatingTransmitting ideas between parties
relaying · reporting · conveying · announcing · declaring · proclaiming · instructing · explaining
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
- recountingNarrating events from memory
- relatingConcerning or connecting
- narratingTelling events aloud
reciting · describing · reporting · chronicling · detailing · conveying · imparting · sharing · spinning · weaving
striking
Noticeably impressive
- powerfulHaving great strength
- significantHaving notable importance
- effectiveProducing intended results
forceful · compelling · decisive · damning · devastating · crushing · pointed · cutting · incisive · potent
reveal
Make something visible
divulge · betray · giveaway · indicator · sign · symptom · clue · evidence · proof · telltale
vivid
Intensely clear and bright
descriptive · illustrative · articulate · dramatic · animated · emotive · graphic · pictorial · suggestive · communicative
tallying
Summing items systematically
- numberingAssigning sequential figures
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
- enumeratingListing things systematically
reckoning · totaling · calculating · cashier · polling · voting · ballot
notifying
Communicating information formally
communicating · relaying · reporting · conveying · announcing · declaring · proclaiming · instructing · explaining · enlightening
- communicatingtalking, speaking, sharing, expressing, conveying
- gerundswalking, running, talking, eating, sleeping
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
- narrationfirst person, second person, third person, voice-over, narrator
- snitchessnitching, ratting, squealing, informing, blabbing
- explainingexplaining, clarifying, elaborating, elucidating, expounding
tellinginsignificant
Lacking importance or consequence
inconsequential · ineffective · ineffectual · unimportant · trivial
tellingconcealing
Keeping something secret
hiding · withholding · suppressing · covering up · obscuring
tellinguninformative
Conveying no knowledge
unrevealing · uninstructive · meaningless · opaque · ambiguous
- fortune tellingPredicting someone's future
- telling onReporting someone's wrongdoing
- telling time
- telling it like it isSpeaking plain, unfiltered truth
- telling offVocal expression of displeasure
- telling lies