as in speaking out
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as in spouting (off)
to voice one's opinions freely with force
she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of speaking up
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
Residents, civic leaders and advocacy groups can shape how this technology develops by speaking up about clear rules, fair data use and transparency.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
But now, the King is speaking up about another situation.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s why doctors stress the importance of staying on top of screenings and speaking up if something seems off.
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 7 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the Celebrity Big Brother cast member’s first time speaking up about her gender identity.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 4 Oct. 2025
That expression can come in a variety of ways, such as speaking up in a group, filing an official complaint, writing or publishing those views, or demonstrating and rallying to draw attention to them.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
There is power in speaking up to reveal these hateful ideologies that have incited deadly violence.
—Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Residents, civic leaders and advocacy groups can shape how this technology develops by speaking up about clear rules, fair data use and transparency.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
But now, the King is speaking up about another situation.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2025
That’s why doctors stress the importance of staying on top of screenings and speaking up if something seems off.
—Korin Miller, Flow Space, 7 Oct. 2025
This isn’t the Celebrity Big Brother cast member’s first time speaking up about her gender identity.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 4 Oct. 2025
That expression can come in a variety of ways, such as speaking up in a group, filing an official complaint, writing or publishing those views, or demonstrating and rallying to draw attention to them.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
There is power in speaking up to reveal these hateful ideologies that have incited deadly violence.
—Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up
Verb
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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
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Universal Images Group via Getty Images Other artists have responded by speaking out.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The responses in Bug are very vocal and that is a lot of fun.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
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Hopefuls are judged on musical performance, song choice, vocal abilities, costuming, crowd appeal and authenticity in portraying the real-life Gold Rush character Klondike Kate.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Hoover kept talking up the economy when there was little to suggest things were improving.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Kelly, during the demonstration, filmed himself directly confronting lead pastor Jonathan Parnell and shouting in the faces of parishioners, even following them to their cars with crying children in tow.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
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An arrest report for Stout says that Wayne and multiple other people living in the home heard Stout shouting at the girl and slapping noises.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 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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There were clearly plenty of struggles, leading to the Buccaneers' signal caller sounding off on the issues.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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For the writers pictured here, engaging with culture isn’t a hobby or a sideline or a way of sounding off.—
Richard Renaldi,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The 45-year-old's work at the CBS Evening News desk was even criticized by fellow TV personality Megyn Kelly, who relentlessly mocked Dokoupil for crying during a CBS News Miami clip that saw him being interviewed by a local broadcaster and subsequently crying over memories of his childhood.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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In a series of frantic 911 calls, one individual reported hearing the couple's children crying inside and upon investigating, discovered Spencer lying dead in his bedroom.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Becca Good can be heard yelling from outside the vehicle.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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In the video, a man is seen yelling at fellow audience members for being disruptive throughout the show's first act.—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking%20up. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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