as in speaking out
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Dissimilar Words
as in spouting (off)
to voice one's opinions freely with force
she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speaking up
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
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
The good news is, like your friend, more people are speaking up about it than in the past.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ron Funches has been speaking up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Her time spent training has helped give her the fuel to continue speaking up and resisting ICE’s presence in the city.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 29 Jan. 2026
This silence arises when speaking up feels pointless or risky.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This is where listening becomes just as important as speaking up — keep an open mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
To vocalize the belief that the lawsuit was partisan politics instead of concerned citizens speaking up, is very disheartening.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
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
The good news is, like your friend, more people are speaking up about it than in the past.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ron Funches has been speaking up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Her time spent training has helped give her the fuel to continue speaking up and resisting ICE’s presence in the city.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 29 Jan. 2026
This silence arises when speaking up feels pointless or risky.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This is where listening becomes just as important as speaking up — keep an open mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
To vocalize the belief that the lawsuit was partisan politics instead of concerned citizens speaking up, is very disheartening.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up
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
Adjective
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In the latter, many on the Christian right have been vocal supporters.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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Another draw would not have been enough to satisfy Hurzeler’s most vocal and impatient detractors.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 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
-
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
-
Levy took out a laptop and began shouting first names.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
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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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
Verb
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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
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There were clearly plenty of struggles, leading to the Buccaneers' signal caller sounding off on the issues.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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
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Flip the switch and the crying baby disappears.—
Adam Cheung,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Cite this Entry
“Speaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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