adjective
Etymology: from present participle of tell
1. : producing a marked effect : effective , impressive , striking
a telling attack, made with skill and shrewd insight — V.L.Parrington
delivered telling blows in the interests of toleration and freedom — M.R.Cohen
describes in her deft and telling phrases the teacher-town relationship — E.A.Weeks
paragraphs, packed with telling detail — Benjamin Farrington
a telling piece of satire — A.L.Vogelback
advocated with telling effect better measures for the equipment of the soldiers — C.A.Duniway
he made a telling picture standing alert — John Muir †1914
2. : revealing, expressive
many of the most telling pages in her story — E.K.Brown
a telling study of the corrosive effects of snobbery and ostracism on the human spirit — Paul Pickrel
Synonyms: see valid