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

Part of it is that more women are speaking up about hair loss, shrugging off the stigma and reaching out for help. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026 She's become an outspoken advocate against the plant, speaking up at city meetings and leading the Safe and Sound Coalition as its director. — Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Fortunately, there are other voices speaking up — and good reason to think that voters are listening. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 Spotting a pair of smart glasses can require tech-savvy security staff, and enforcement may depend on users voluntarily disclosing their devices—or on watchful observers speaking up. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026 City official calls removal ‘unnecessary escalation’ As the meeting continued, another attendee called Miller’s removal from the chambers disappointing and shameful to see someone who was speaking up thrown to the ground. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Instead, Cuban seemed much more interested in speaking up for fellow entrepreneurs. — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 But when Cunningham said women’s sports should be for women, speaking up suddenly became the problem. — Jonathan Alpert Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Imtiaz stresses that with any form of treatment, speaking up quickly about any concerns is essential. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking up

Adjective

As a neo-New Wave guy with a heartland jones and drama-king chops, Flowers isn’t bad cosplaying his heroes, even if his brawny rock-opera vocal approach is a bit short on the conversational warmth that makes for truly memorable country singing.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
The Guatemalan epidemic has been traced back to a gathering in Santiago Atitlán in December 2025 that was organized by a Christian megachurch whose leaders have been vocal about their anti-vaccine views.

— Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of vocal

Verb

As the investigation of Hayden Panettiere's death continues, new details are emerging, and people in the actress' life are speaking out.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Panettiere said she was fired from a decade-plus brand deal with Neutrogena after speaking out about postpartum depression in a 2015 interview on national TV.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of speaking out

Verb

After talking up presumptive starter Micah Gilbert, Freeman basically listed the entire roster at the position.

— Pete Sampson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Fujiyama spent a chunk of our interview talking up investments in Europe’s defense sector, where Carlyle sees a €9 trillion opportunity.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of talking up

Verb

Visually, the entire set was stunning, with fast cuts of Nancy Whang pounding on her keyboard, Al Doyle whirring his synthesizer, and Murphy shouting into his microphone, wrapped around his arm.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
During a third-quarter timeout with Indiana leading 81-75, Cloud began shouting toward Freedom at courtside and Freedom responded, prompting security to escort the former NBA center from the arena as the Fever went on to pull away for a 113-90 win.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 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

Influencers like Paige Paul (née Lorenze) have been sounding off in Four Winds Craft Guild’s comments, trying to frame the argument as a feminist one.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 July 2026
His inconsistencies were glaring, sounding off alarm bells about whether Drury had made a miscalculation.

— Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 July 2026