SPEAKING UP Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

speaking up 1 of 2

adjective

as in speaking out

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

speaking up

2 of 2

verb

present participle of speak up

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

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.

Recent Examples of speaking up

Verb

This disconnect stems from a lack of psychological safety, where leaders fear speaking up or challenging ideas. — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Stress that their devices won’t be taken away as a result, and they won’t be punished for speaking up. — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 2 July 2026 The affiliation between Aquarius and the Sklarian Raiders is immense because both will never stop speaking up to assert messages that upend the status quo. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Consider speaking up in a meeting and stating a clear boundary with a co-worker, using steady words that match your actions for the rest of the day. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026 Instead of pushing through pain and not speaking up for fear they'll be labeled weak or a complainer, this generation is more inclined to listen to their bodies, advocate for themselves, and address the issue through the proper resources. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 10 June 2026 Rehearsals for a Revolution is a cautionary tale about speaking up in a place where rebellion can cost you your livelihood, and quite possibly your life. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 Watts said women speaking up has finally pressured the medical system to respond. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026 Things like regular psychological safety surveys also ensure employees feel as comfortable as possible speaking up, learning, and contributing. — Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 13 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up

Adjective

Over the long course of hominin evolution, the human vocal tract underwent a significant reorganization.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Damian has been less vocal – processing everything that happened to his family in a different way.

— Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Definition of vocal

Verb

Surviving members of the beloved Bahamian musical group Da Pond Band are speaking out about their friends and bandmates who were killed when a small plane operated by Flamingo Air crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing all 10 people on board.

— Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Many of the witnesses, including Frometa and Flores, have said that ICE has tried to punish them for speaking out.

— Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of speaking out

Verb

Damola Adamolekun, the youngest CEO the chain restaurant has ever seen at 37 years old, acknowledges the company's storied history with celebrity, and has been talking up the brand since taking over.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Since Anthropic began offering glimpses of their Mythos model earlier this year, critics have slammed the company for allegedly building hype by talking up how dangerous the model could be in the wrong hands.

— Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of talking up

Verb

From there on the two teams looked to find ways to generate offense but the bats were not sounding off.

— Mukala Kabongo, Boston Herald, 14 June 2026
The university, its athletic department and anyone associated with it haven't done the Red Raiders and their quarterback any favors, either, with people like head coach Joey Maguire and billionaire booster Cody Campbell sounding off on the issue and only angering fans further.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of sounding off

Verb

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who now leads Turning Point USA, was seen crying at times, dabbing her eyes with tissues and being consoled by the people around her.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
The Science Behind Why Smart People Go Blank There's a reason even experienced clinicians can suddenly lose their footing the moment a client starts crying or raises their voice over a bill.

— Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of crying

Verb

In the 57-second video, which could not be independently verified by PEOPLE, Mason walks away multiple times before turning back to continue yelling back and forth with Donalds.

— Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
During the Cape Verde–versus-Argentina game, the YouTuber and Twitch streamer recorded a woman yelling racial slurs at him during the game.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 July 2026