TELL Synonyms: 241 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'tell' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tell are betray , disclose , divulge , and reveal . While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information. // told them what he had overheard

Q: Where would 'betray' be a reasonable alternative to 'tell'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tell , betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure. // a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Q: When would 'disclose' be a good substitute for 'tell'?

The words disclose and tell can be used in similar contexts, but disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret. // candidates must disclose their financial assets

Q: When might 'divulge' be a better fit than 'tell'?

Although the words divulge and tell have much in common, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence. // refused to divulge an anonymous source

Q: In what contexts can 'reveal' take the place of 'tell'?

The meanings of reveal and tell largely overlap; however, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason. // divine will as revealed in sacred writings

tell

verb

ˈtel

Definition of tell next

as in to describe

to give an oral or written account of in some detail they told the story of how they had met

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Relevance

as in to say

to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart

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as in to count

to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?

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as in to inform

to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

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as in to instruct

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority told us to sit still and wait

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as in to reveal

to make known (as information previously kept secret) I won't tell your secret to anyone

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tell are betray, disclose, divulge, and reveal. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

Where would betray be a reasonable alternative to tell?

While in some cases nearly identical to tell, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When would disclose be a good substitute for tell?

The words disclose and tell can be used in similar contexts, but disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When might divulge be a better fit than tell?

Although the words divulge and tell have much in common, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can reveal take the place of tell?

The meanings of reveal and tell largely overlap; however, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tell The client ended up being Joy Klein, who told Costanza to take a trip to Treasures 4 Teachers. —

Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2024 Madrid was told by the Red Devils that the starting price in negotiations for the 25-year-old would be $52.6 million (€50 million). —

Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 But co-showrunner Rashad Raisani tells Entertainment Weekly that the Lone Star team actually started with a completely different plan for the Gabriel mystery. —

Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 3 Dec. 2024 Though neither Kravitz nor Tatum have yet to comment on their breakup publicly, sources told PEOPLE in October that the pair recently went their separate ways after three years together. —

Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell

Verb

Director Franco Zeffirelli described her as big in every way — big eyes, big nose, big mouth, big body — and compared her to the Statue of Liberty.

Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Author John Neihardt described Crazy Horse in his book Black Elk Speaks as a person of great modesty and reserve but who was generous to the poor, elderly, and children.

Chip Bell, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024