telling means having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective. It carries an Arena rating of 1489, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, telling ranks #1,386 of 25,264 for Qualifying, #2,351 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #2,498 of 14,340 for Most Vivid Words, #6,676 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words.
telling is pronounced /ˈtɛlɪŋ/.
Why “telling” is a great word
Having a marked or revealing effect, significant or convincing. From the verb tell (from Old English 'tellan', meaning 'to count, relate, consider') + the suffix -ing, forming a present participle and adjective; first recorded in adjectival use 1850–55. Unlike 'revealing,' which often implies a passive leakage of truth, or 'significant,' a broad marker of importance, 'telling' denotes a precise, potent efficacy that uncovers or compels belief. It is the minute crack in a polished facade, the perfectly chosen statistic that silences a room, or the slight hesitation before a practiced answer—small, evident things that carry the quiet, conclusive weight of proof, the small, hot ember of truth that glows long after the words have cooled.
Etymology
Gerund from the verb tell, from tell + -ing.
adj
- Having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective.“a telling blow”
- Revealing information; bearing significance.“a telling smile”
- Serving to convince.“telling evidence”
noun
- The act of narration.
- The disclosure of information.“There may he sit and smile, or creep among the ships, or moan and sigh round islands in his great content—the miser lord of wealth in gems and pearls beyond the telling of all fables.”
- Counting, numbering.
- Ability to determine.“"One white man." said Bill, after a brief inspection. "Out on his line, I s'pose, and there's no tellin' when he'll be back. So we won't wait. We'll just serve notice on him."”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.