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
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Recent Examples of sounding off
Now Harwich Select Board members are sounding off against the tax, arguing that the measure wouldn’t solve the region’s housing crisis, but rather, increase the Cape’s cost of living.
—
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounding off
Verb
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The intense scrutiny on student walkouts thrust young people into new roles navigating the pitfalls, logistics and emotional debate of speaking out on a divisive political topic.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
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The family of 21-year-old Dustin DeWitt is speaking out after he was killed in a stabbing in downtown Sacramento on Monday night.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Giddey stopped, the ball cradled in his palm, shouting while jerking his hand in the rough direction of his intended pass.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Her documentation concluded with a panicked scene of her and other civilians shouting in fear as drones flew overhead.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Is this happening in other agencies, with state employees fearful of speaking up and potentially losing their jobs, as was the fate of the DHS whistleblower?—
Steve Arentz,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
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And that’s precisely why the American Dental Association is speaking up.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Concertgoers would enthusiastically respond, yelling out each letter.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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In one call released by police, a woman can be heard amid a clamor of shouting repeatedly yelling for people to get down.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In another video, Johnson picked up a second infant and held a cloth to the baby’s mouth and nose for several seconds while the child was crying.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
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In crying because you were moved by a piece of music?—
Charles Yu,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Repeatedly talking up the need for consolidation on today’s Banijay group call about the deal, which has created an $8B production group, Banijay Group CEO François Riahi responded to reports in the French press that Banijay is still looking at the ITV production arm.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
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But talking up those benefits, like reminders of plastic’s role in medicine, is a way of focusing attention on its positive uses while ignoring the many wasteful ones.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The guys were joking around, calling coach my dad and stuff like that.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Lebanese government has also taken steps to distance itself from Hezbollah, including issuing arrest warrants for members behind the strikes into Israel and calling for the dismantling of Hezbollah's military wing.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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 11 Mar. 2026.
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