SPEAKING UP Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

speaking up 1 of 2

adjective

as in speaking out

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Dissimilar Words

speaking up

2 of 2

verb

present participle of speak up

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

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 speaking up

Verb

Survivors can face public skepticism and harassment in speaking up; oftentimes they are blamed for the violence that harmed them. — Michele Decker, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026 That meant speaking up, following the action and keeping his energy from slipping when somebody else had the ball. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 Later that month, two teenage supporters attended a Fever-Storm game at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts and carrying a sign thanking Cunningham for speaking up for girls. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 When people feel comfortable speaking up, different perspectives become an advantage. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Decades of management research tie psychological safety to important outcomes for both workers and organizations, including learning, creativity and speaking up. — Vanessa M. Conzon, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Child Mind Institute guidance on communicating with teenagers emphasizes listening, validating feelings and creating space where kids feel safe speaking up. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026 Power dynamics, hierarchy and fear can all prevent people from speaking up, especially within male groups. — Katie Hurley, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 For patients, speaking up about changes in the skin can be important both during treatment and before a cancer diagnosis. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up

Adjective

Courtney is attuned to the singularity of each, their vocal tics and fixations and privacies, their fledgling channels of desire and uncanny knowledge of beauty.

— Jamie Hood, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026
To his left politically, Roan, who is openly gay, is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and in August performed at Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival that raised $20 million for women’s charities.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of vocal

Verb

Last year, residents began speaking out against the project after NCDOT released early design maps showing the interstate expansion running through historically Black neighborhoods.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2026
The parent of an Atholton High School athlete is speaking out days after her son and his teammates were allegedly subjected to racial slurs and offensive language.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of speaking out

Verb

They can be forgiven for talking up their own book, but foreign investors seem bullish too.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Also at the upfronts, led by Paramount’s Lee Sears, President, International Markets Ad Sales, execs were talking up a new world in the UK where Paramount’s 5 has struck a historic deal with Channel 4 over advertising.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of talking up

Verb

Ultimately, though, many workers want to be at a business that rewards people for actually doing the hard work—not just shouting the most about it.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
In one video, Basabe appears to raise his voice at a man before turning around and shouting at a woman.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of shouting

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
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

Definition of piping up

Verb

The impending expansion of the college football playoff has led to fans sounding off on the decision to move from 12 to 24 teams after only three years after adding eight teams to the current format.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Robert Pattinson is sounding off about Steven Soderbergh stepping up to help finish filming The Batman Part II.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of sounding off

Verb

Vision is still frustrated and furious over the ways Ultron tricked and used him, but yelling at an opponent that won’t get riled in return isn’t satisfying.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 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.

— CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026