SPEAK UP Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

speak up

verb

Definition of speak up

as in to speak out

to voice one's opinions freely with force she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 speak up Florida families have spoken up every time this issue has come before us. — Kas Miller, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026 If employees aren’t willing to speak up—or don’t have a constructive point to make—Stankey suggested there may not be the right people in the room. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 If someone interrupts your day or questions a boundary, don’t wait until you’re frustrated to speak up. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 McCurdy had not disclosed any ties to the industry on papers he’s published until Brandt, the Virginia pharmacist, spoke up in 2025. — Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speak up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speak up

Verb

She was fired by the EPA after publicly speaking out, but later rehired by the agency.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Jurors continue to speak out in the days after a mistrial was declared for Massachusetts mom Lindsay Clancy in the strangling deaths of her three children, 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of speak out

Verb

O’Kane shouts when Tom Brokaw announces that one of the men suspected of plotting the attack has been detained.

— Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities, shouts slogans during a rally to recruit more fighters, in Sanaa on September 10, 2026.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of shout

Verb

In court, Lindsay appeared to cry during opening statements when a prosecutor described her three children and their manner of death.

— Selena Barrientos, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
When the Kirk family attorney spoke about how Charlie Kirk stood for the opposite of hate, Erika Kirk was crying and nodding along.

— Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of cry

Verb

Jensen Huang has been talking up the importance of fostering a rich open source ecosystem.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The telco is talking up the simplicity of its new offering, but with a lot of talk of a ‘cost of living crisis’ in the UK, a lot will also come down to pricing versus a traditional pay TV service, or paying for streaming services individually.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of talk up

Verb

Those who drive past our protests and yell insults or flip us the bird are to be pitied.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
The film focused on a young Black reenactor at a historical slave plantation museum in the Midwest who yells at tourists and fights with the town’s racist mayor — played by Parker — was reportedly slated to go into production in the summer of 2024.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of yell

Verb

When a small raptor center in Southern California began caring for the most famous bald eagle on Earth, the keyboard veterinarians started piping up.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Every time a restaurant or other small business announces its closure, people pipe up on social media about what the business owner should have done to be successful.

— Gregg Olsen, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of pipe up

Verb

Vocalization increases, with more bulls sounding off as the rut approaches; the peak is generally considered to be the last two weeks of September.

— Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
In the video, Kidman and Bullock sound off on everything from their best film roles to their finest red carpet moments.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2026