as in speaking out
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Dissimilar Words
as in spouting (off)
to voice one's opinions freely with force
she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speaking up
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Across Caracas, outside the Helicoide—one of Venezuela's most notorious prisons—relatives of political prisoners are also speaking up.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
The good news is, like your friend, more people are speaking up about it than in the past.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ron Funches has been speaking up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Her time spent training has helped give her the fuel to continue speaking up and resisting ICE’s presence in the city.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 29 Jan. 2026
This silence arises when speaking up feels pointless or risky.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This is where listening becomes just as important as speaking up — keep an open mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
To vocalize the belief that the lawsuit was partisan politics instead of concerned citizens speaking up, is very disheartening.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
And given all the ambient discouragement against speaking up about this particular cause, solidarity isn’t just a buzzword.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Across Caracas, outside the Helicoide—one of Venezuela's most notorious prisons—relatives of political prisoners are also speaking up.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
The good news is, like your friend, more people are speaking up about it than in the past.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Ron Funches has been speaking up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
Her time spent training has helped give her the fuel to continue speaking up and resisting ICE’s presence in the city.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 29 Jan. 2026
This silence arises when speaking up feels pointless or risky.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This is where listening becomes just as important as speaking up — keep an open mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
To vocalize the belief that the lawsuit was partisan politics instead of concerned citizens speaking up, is very disheartening.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up
Verb
-
Shia LaBeouf is speaking out after being arrested in New Orleans over an alleged altercation amid Mardi Gras celebrations in the city.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Jackson also visits South Africa speaking out against apartheid.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nor were the four years the FBI operated under Biden the best years of the agency’s life, as the FBI was used to go after political conservatives, conservative groups, as a well as vocal protesters at school committee meetings questioning COVID regulations.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
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Conservative critics have become increasingly vocal against the fields in recent years, but ethnic and gender studies are not new fields.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Edelman’s annual barometer has polarized commentators, with skeptics arguing that a corporate PR advisor has an interest in talking up the levels of trust in business.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, agents will be talking up their clients and spurious links made with all manner of players.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Minnesotans wrapped scarves around their faces to block the tear gas and cold, shouting and whistling at ICE agents.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lyman recalled a massive weekend in Long Beach with 80,000 attendees that resulted in only one arrest—a drunk fan who took Ice-T’s lyrics too literally and started shouting at the police.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
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Select Board members are sounding off on the lack of information.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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The two sat in silence before Carter began crying.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
13 Feb. 2026
-
When the winning score was announced Cizeron hugged his coach and covered his face while crying.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The details Christine Smith, who's employed at the auto repair shop Pasadena Bimmer next door, was working the front desk when the man came running inside, yelling for help.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Dash camera video from Newton’s police cruiser doesn’t capture the shooting, but Newton can be heard yelling commands for Sanders to stop and show his hands.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking%20up. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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