Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tell against

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.30 in modern English

Syllables: tel-l a-gainst
IPA

12

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To function as a liability (for someone); to put into a condition of disadvantage.

Transitive verb

verb

To serve as evidence which casts doubt upon.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"[S]ome people . . . have been so short-sighted and reckless as to clamor for an easy dissolution of the marriage-contract. . . . Is it possible that they do not see that this is a liberty which, once granted, would always tell against the weaker sex?"
"Ernest's want of muscular strength did not tell against him here."
"[H]ard as he worked, his age was beginning to tell against him."
"She knew he was disposed to catch at anything that seemed to tell against Godwin's claims."
""Such a fact must tell against the theory.""
"[T]he comma tells against this reading."

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

tells against (present, singular) telling against (participle, present) told against (participle, past) told against (past)

Phrases

counter-evidence

Frequently Paired Words

counter-evidence

Synonyms

disadvantage weigh against discredit

Questions

What does tell against mean?: To function as a liability (for someone); to put into a condition of disadvantage.

How to pronounce tell against

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