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

Relevance

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 Eric and Linda Carpenter-Grantham have shown us how change can begin — with a willingness to speak up and a practical idea that addresses a prevalent concern. — Jermaine F. Williams, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026 Some people spoke up, while others, such as the man who’d been with Foreman when he was shot, remained silent, Townsend said. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Garibay said residents in nursing homes are afraid to speak up. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026 His candidate list, however, does feature Eliran Eliyahu, a filmmaker who chairs the Israeli Directors Guild and was one of the few politicians to speak up in support of NAZA directors Abraham and Szor. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speak up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speak up

Verb

Javits, who dreamed of becoming a doctor, was remembered fondly Monday when his fellow students staged a walkout and spoke out about bullying and gun violence.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
Jan Barry, a co-founder of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, has made the point that there are now established pathways for antiwar veterans to speak out and that no similar tradition exists for dissenters within law enforcement.

— Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of speak out

Verb

Bass has talked up the city’s drop in violent crime, including a 47% reduction in homicides, and warned that Raman’s plan to remove the police chief would throw the LAPD into turmoil right before the Olympics.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
Hoffman also talked up Amazon recently launching a five-service streaming bundle on Prime Video that combines AMC+, BritBox, MGM+, PBS Masterpiece and Starz.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of talk up

Verb

The video, which is blurry from the officer's movement, captures yelling and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by several additional gunshot noises.

— CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
The video, which is blurry from the officer’s movement, captures yelling and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by several additional gunshot noises.

— Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of yell

Verb

Ida Mae Cullen, the peppery widow of poet Countee Cullen, pipes up to remind the group, vigorously, that the Harlem Renaissance really lasted for just one decade, the 1920s, though its ripples began years before and resonated for decades after.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
But remarks made last week by Bruce Brown, an eight-year NBA veteran fighting for a roster spot with the New York Knicks, garnered enough attention online that the league piped up.

— Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pipe up

Verb

Robert Pattinson is sounding off about Steven Soderbergh stepping up to help finish filming The Batman Part II.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026
Here, the athlete sounds off on the secrets to success in beach volleyball, the women’s sports surge and SoCal style.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026