as in talking
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as in communication
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1
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
finally spoke her fears
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lecturing
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
the Mayanists have been invited to speak about their latest archaeological discoveries
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speaking
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
This will be a recurring non-speaking role that pays $195 for 12 hours of work.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025
Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Fourth, Gahan says, big creators do appearances, speaking engagements, or conferences, for which they are paid (though this seems to be the least common way for creators to make money).
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
On Monday, Sánchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, speaking at Beijing’s Tsinghua University a day before he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for speaking
Adjective
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to take inventory of your home and see what's still working and what could use an update—both practically speaking, and in terms of aesthetics.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
This will be a recurring non-speaking role that pays $195 for 12 hours of work.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025
Noun
Atlatszo has also reported that Americans distributed across Orban’s network have been paid speaking fees, received compensation for attending conferences, and had their travel and lodging expenses taken care of to attend pro-government functions.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Fourth, Gahan says, big creators do appearances, speaking engagements, or conferences, for which they are paid (though this seems to be the least common way for creators to make money).
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rodgers, who has been speaking regularly with Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, has not yet definitively committed to playing in 2026 for the Steelers.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
On Monday, Sánchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, speaking at Beijing’s Tsinghua University a day before he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for speaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking
Noun
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League officials gave the players a talking-to in the morning and, to back it up, Krebs got tagged with a roughing minor on what seemed like routine pushing and shove after the whistle.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Great Salt Lake is an issue Utah leaders have been working to resuscitate for nearly a decade; Cox knew the talking points.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Using a Negroni and up to two glasses of Malbec, get through pre-appetizer chitchat, group ordering, salad, entrées, dessert, all the way to the Uber ride home, without oversharing or otherwise saying anything that will result in an emotional hangover the next morning.—
Charles Yu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Minutes later, dispatchers received another call saying that the suspect was a relative of the caller and that about nine people lived inside the home.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Should the guy who spends his spare time dodging bullets really be lecturing him on death wishes?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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The irony here is that after spending decades lecturing China about the merits of free trade, the US is taking a page out of Beijing’s own state capitalist playbook.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This will set you both up for a healthier and more communicative relationship or will save you from spending time with someone whose values don’t align with yours.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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The emerging field calls for more refined methods to determine whether fungal electrical signaling plays a functional, communicative role.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So far, 1,500 Orange County voices have spoken without uttering a word.—
Mindy Schauer,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
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For example, lying isn’t merely uttering a falsehood.—
Robert B. Talisse,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Reading and interacting with students’ original thoughts in class helps teachers understand how students think and articulate.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
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That change may look like the ambitious and growing national people’s budgets movement, which brings together local residents and community groups to protest budget cuts on essential services, articulate budget priorities and democratize the budget process.—
Celina Su,
The Conversation,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What Sam Hoffman built there became the city of Thornton — and a free public exhibit is now telling that story for the first time in a generation.—
Anna Alejo,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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But the sharper books are telling a slightly different story.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For the second time this week, the state Senate spent hours discussing complicated technology legislation, with lawmakers once again advancing a bill over strong objections that regulating rapidly changing technology could negatively affect local businesses.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
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At the start of the episode, the Awards Circuit Roundtable is back — and discussing some of the biggest Emmy news, including how submissions are down and what that will mean for this year’s race.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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