as in speaking up
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Dissimilar Words
as in spouting (off)
to voice one's opinions freely with force
it's a free country, so anyone can speak out
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speaking out
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Jackson also visits South Africa speaking out against apartheid.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Lorde joins a growing list of musicians speaking out against ICE and its agents’ actions in Minneapolis and the United States at large.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
As the Beckham family drama continues to unfold, a former hairstylist of Brooklyn Beckham’s wife, Nicola Peltz, is speaking out about her alleged mean-girl behavior behind the scenes.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Universal Images Group via Getty Images Other artists have responded by speaking out.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Leaders such as Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington DC and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago have been speaking out strongly on migration, but the forthcoming elections and the pope’s appointments to the US church hierarchy will be crucial.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Now, the bride is speaking out about the viral moment.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Goodrich Area Schools superintendent is speaking out after a student yelled a racial slur during a high school basketball game last week.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Jackson also visits South Africa speaking out against apartheid.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Lorde joins a growing list of musicians speaking out against ICE and its agents’ actions in Minneapolis and the United States at large.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
As the Beckham family drama continues to unfold, a former hairstylist of Brooklyn Beckham’s wife, Nicola Peltz, is speaking out about her alleged mean-girl behavior behind the scenes.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Universal Images Group via Getty Images Other artists have responded by speaking out.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Leaders such as Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington DC and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago have been speaking out strongly on migration, but the forthcoming elections and the pope’s appointments to the US church hierarchy will be crucial.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Now, the bride is speaking out about the viral moment.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking out
Verb
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And that’s precisely why the American Dental Association is speaking up.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
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First goals, clean sheets and speaking up The SheBelieves Cup marks a key moment in the American soccer calendar in 2026.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With some exceptions, larger animals have larger vocal systems and typically make lower sounds.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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With some exceptions, larger animals have larger vocal systems and typically make lower sounds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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From the get-go, Vespaio was incredibly kind and communicative when planning our rehearsal dinner.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
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The steering, though somewhat isolated due to the car’s grand-touring disposition, feels communicative enough to enable and encourage rather spirited cornering.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At one point nearly three hours into the meeting, Mayor White called a recess after audience members who were upset about time limits for speakers started shouting at the city clerk and members of the council.—
Stacy Brandt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
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The hum of stockbrokers, pacing the room and shouting into headsets, was audible below him.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With 1,830 staterooms, a dozen dining options, 10 hot tubs, and an expansive gym, this is a big ship that feels like it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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Located on the western side of the Tetons, accessed via Idaho, Grand Targhee delivers consistent snowfall and expansive open terrain without the price tiering of nearby Jackson Hole.—
Caroline Tell,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Talarico boosted the dispute with a late-night appearance on Lawrence O’Donnell’s show on MS NOW, talking up the importance of defending free speech.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
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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His wife is crying in the corner, collapsed on the floor, drunk and bleeding from her nose and mouth.—
Mary Gaitskill,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
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There were hugs, and proof that there is crying in baseball.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speaking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking%20out. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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