speaking 1 of 3

Definition of speakingnext

speaking

2 of 3

noun

speaking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of speak

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
Adjective
Those episodes were beaten out, however, by an episode from Telepathy Tapes, which explores the idea that non-speaking individuals with autism can communicate telepathically. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025 Julia may end this episode on a (relatively speaking, always remember) high note, but Henry … oh boy, Henry. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
In laboratory experiments, people who chewed gum during mildly stressful tasks such as public speaking or mental math often reported lower anxiety levels than those who didn't. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026 Combine this with a regular speaking schedule and associated ventures, and someone like Smith could make a comfortable, if not extravagant, life for himself in Hollywood. Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
The tougher hurdle, historically speaking, is that the Cowboys haven’t sniffed a conference championship game in Dak’s time. Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026 The final scene brought to series full-circle with an ending Miller had always envisioned, where June ends the series speaking the words that opened the show. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking
Noun
  • That Fletcher was an unused substitute became a talking point.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Aguilera was coy in her pose, covering her chest while displaying her cleavage and letting her jewelry do the talking.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, still some others doubt the idea, saying foreign intervention might push the country towards more chaos in long term.
    Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension withdrew from the Good case earlier this month, saying the Justice Department had prevented state investigators from accessing evidence.
    Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • This is an unusual position for an exponent of the public sphere and communicative rationality to take.
    Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Police said the woman was non-communicative.
    Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Onscreen, Benedict apologizes for kissing Sophie during a moment of passion near the cottage and reiterates his intent to find work for her without ever uttering the word mistress.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
  • During the rehearsal, Ruffalo broke the fourth wall just once, after uttering a weirdly contemporary-sounding line having to do with CBS’ newsroom possibly wanting to keep its distance from the slowly developing Nixon-scandal story.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • When multiple candidates — often several Democrats — compete for the same seat, they are forced to knock on doors, articulate positions, and energize supporters.
    Grace Rauh, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Learning to Engage McMillon has an almost professorial air that’s articulate, polite and exudes competence — but his skill set was honed by long years of experience.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That feeling of telling someone about an underrated gem or misunderstand masterpiece is something he’s been chasing since the decline of video stores in the early 2000s.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Fedorov, the new defense minister, acknowledges the scale of the problem, telling the Ukrainian parliament some 2 million people are ignoring their call-up papers, while 200,000 others have deserted.
    Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Goldis, the author of a Substack blog primarily discussing legal issues related to gender ideology, previously wrote under a pseudonym.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Ahead of Rotterdam, Janković talked to THR, via Zoom, about Home, the importance of discussing migration and sacrifice, getting her friends Trine Dyrholm and Claes Bang to join the film, and what’s next for her.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Speaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

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