to tell the truth
idiom
—used to say that one is stating what one really thinks
I didn't really like the movie, to tell the truth.
Examples of to tell the truth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than respond with a film or documentary, DuVernay activated a collective of artists across multiple disciplines to tell the truth about the police abuse of Black people through storytelling and creativity.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 June 2025
The conventional wisdom was that newspapers might not survive the digital age, but were persevering in their heroic quest to tell the truth.
—Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Ellie, however, cannot abide Joel’s deception, and interrupts to tell the truth to Gail, who then slaps Joel and tells him to leave.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 19 May 2025
Both films cogently argue that ostensible democracies in the U.S. and elsewhere squash anyone who tries to tell the truth – anyone who insists that 2 + 2 = 4.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for to tell the truth
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 June 2025
The conventional wisdom was that newspapers might not survive the digital age, but were persevering in their heroic quest to tell the truth.
—Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Ellie, however, cannot abide Joel’s deception, and interrupts to tell the truth to Gail, who then slaps Joel and tells him to leave.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 19 May 2025
Both films cogently argue that ostensible democracies in the U.S. and elsewhere squash anyone who tries to tell the truth – anyone who insists that 2 + 2 = 4.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for to tell the truth
Cite this Entry
“To tell the truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20tell%20the%20truth. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share