1
as in speaking out
to voice one's opinions freely with force
she never missed a chance to sound off about the latest "stupid" political decisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shouting
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
the guard captain commanded each sentry to sound off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sounding off
In what's become an annual rite in Rhode Island, consumers are once again sounding off about the state's high winter utility costs.
—
Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
There were clearly plenty of struggles, leading to the Buccaneers' signal caller sounding off on the issues.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
For the writers pictured here, engaging with culture isn’t a hobby or a sideline or a way of sounding off.
—Richard Renaldi, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Local police chiefs are sounding off after viral footage of a brutal Cincinnati assault shined new light on what local leaders are saying is a consistent failure regarding violent offenders being released onto the city’s streets.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
There were clearly plenty of struggles, leading to the Buccaneers' signal caller sounding off on the issues.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
For the writers pictured here, engaging with culture isn’t a hobby or a sideline or a way of sounding off.
—Richard Renaldi, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Local police chiefs are sounding off after viral footage of a brutal Cincinnati assault shined new light on what local leaders are saying is a consistent failure regarding violent offenders being released onto the city’s streets.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounding off
Verb
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Melanie Hamrick, longtime partner of rock singer Mick Jagger, is speaking out after she was allegedly assaulted during an outing in London, according to reports.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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An 81-year-old Coconut Grove man and his wife are speaking out for the first time after being struck from behind earlier this month by a teenager riding an electric dirt bike.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Levy took out a laptop and began shouting first names.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Just a few months ago, a far‑right group disrupted the early morning prayer services of the NSU Muslim Student Association on Hollywood Beach, shouting hateful anti-Muslim slurs.—
Adam Abutaa,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And given all the ambient discouragement against speaking up about this particular cause, solidarity isn’t just a buzzword.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Across Caracas, outside the Helicoide—one of Venezuela's most notorious prisons—relatives of political prisoners are also speaking up.—
Manuel Rueda,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Midway through the fourth quarter, Lee was ejected and had to be restrained by Hornets guard Brandon Miller while yelling at officials for a no-call after Charlotte’s Grant Williams collided with Detroit’s Paul Reed.—
Steve Reed,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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After Lathan Sommerville drew consecutive trips to the line, and no whistle blew when Dent was contacted on a drive, Cronin ran onto the court, throwing his fists in anger, and yelling at an official.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cue everyone with a fur baby of their own crying into their beer and chicken wings.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Flip the switch and the crying baby disappears.—
Adam Cheung,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Edelman’s annual barometer has polarized commentators, with skeptics arguing that a corporate PR advisor has an interest in talking up the levels of trust in business.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, agents will be talking up their clients and spurious links made with all manner of players.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Such arrests have been happening for weeks following the government crackdown last month that crushed the protests calling for the end of the country's theocratic rule.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Democrats are calling for judicial warrants before agents can enter private property, a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks, requiring the use of body cameras and new laws for use-of-force standards.—
Justin Gomez,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Younger Republican voters and GOP contrarians are piping up to challenge the broad consensus in the Republican Party that has been in lockstep with policy on Israel.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sounding off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounding%20off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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