Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. One who tattles on others; an informer or talebearer.
- adj. Revealing; telltale.
Wiktionary
- adj. telltale, giveaway
- n. One who tattles (reports others' wrongdoings), often by a child seeking attention.
- n. One who gossips, often for the sake of attention.
WordNet 3.0
- n. someone who gossips indiscreetly
Examples
“The penalty for such a violation was for the immediate surrender of the paper, which was soon retrieved by the stealth "tattletale" who was hovering on the periphery as his rival was subjected to disciplinary action.”
“The "tattletale" lights will make it easier for troopers to enforce traffic laws for failing to stop at red lights and failing to yield the right of way, he said.”
“The new "tattletale" lights were installed last week on Highway 12 at the intersections of Highway 124 and Humorist Road in Burbank.”
“I hope they don't look at it that way," Lorentzen says when asked about the "tattletale" accusations sure to follow.”
“In an effort to curtail vehicles running red lights, "tattletale" lights have been installed at two intersections in the Burbank area.”
“Reporting objectionable contents or activities has nothing to do with being a "tattletale" or "stoolpigeon", contrary to what is sometimes discussed in forums.”
“I counted Bill and Megan Romersma, whose place backed up to ours and whose son, Jared, Puddles and I had ditched earlier, because there was no way we were going to get away with this if that little tattletale had come along.”
“Unfortunately, I can remember being taught, “No one likes a tattletale” in kindergarten by my teacher.”
“Consequently, they may focus their investigation on the most vulnerable person -- the "tattletale," the "whistleblower," the target whose "difference" marked them for social aggression or "bullying" in the first place.”
The Huffington Post: Janice Harper: What's Wrong with the 'Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights'
“The tattletale that goes around the neighborhood telling on the cool kids who break the rules.”
The Huffington Post: KT Boyle: Tales From the Census Trail: Blame the Interns
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘tattletale’.
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Gapeseeds and Muckworms - Compound De...
A list of compound derogatory names such as gapeseed, muckworm and lickspittle. Your one-word contributions to this list are welcome.
See sionnach's list derogatory terms I should use ...gapeseed, muckworm, lickspittle, makeweight, bootlicker, backscratcher, apple-polisher, backslapper, brownnoser, rakeshame, yesman, freeloader and 293 more...
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WF - nominal compounds (figurative)
An extensive list I have been working on for quite some time. Feel free to add more of the kind if you miss any.
brainstorming, upside, downside, goldplating, bikeshedding, mudslinging, downgrading, headhunter, streamlining, mainstreaming, gerrymandering, frontloading and 503 more...
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Killjoy et al
Namely, compounds consisting of a verb with a direct object immediately after it, without inflection
killjoy, lickspigot, quakebuttock, throttlebottom, scattergood, scapegrace, swillbowl, tosspot, breakfast, cutthroat, pickpocket, dreadnought and 84 more...
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