telling

/ˈte-liŋ/

adjective

  1. carrying great weight and producing a marked effect : effective, expressive

the most telling evidence

valid sound cogent convincing telling mean having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance. valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority. sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

verb

  1. to relate in detail : narrate

  2. to give utterance to : say

  3. to make known : divulge, reveal

told the whole story to us

could never tell a lie

reveal disclose divulge tell betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed. reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason. disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

idiom

  1. —used with a statement to suggest that one is making the statement in an unwilling way