as in speaks out
to voice one's opinions freely with force
she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings
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Recent Examples of speaks up
Touching the Art also delves into erasure and gaslighting, illustrating the all-too-common silencing that occurs when a family member speaks up about violence or abuse.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Maybe not the most famous biopic but a quite effective one, with Paul Muni as the 19th-century French writer who speaks up for a Jewish captain tagged as a traitor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Jauregui has been vocal about the liberation of Palestinians and frequently speaks up about human rights issues on her platform.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Receiver Scotty Miller said that in the meeting room, Metcalf often speaks up to ask questions or give his teammates tips.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Who speaks up in meetings versus who stays silent?
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Maybe not the most famous biopic but a quite effective one, with Paul Muni as the 19th-century French writer who speaks up for a Jewish captain tagged as a traitor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Jauregui has been vocal about the liberation of Palestinians and frequently speaks up about human rights issues on her platform.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Receiver Scotty Miller said that in the meeting room, Metcalf often speaks up to ask questions or give his teammates tips.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Who speaks up in meetings versus who stays silent?
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaks up
Verb
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The mayor of Dearborn speaks out for the first time on the controversy over his remarks to a resident.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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Wife speaks out after husband doused with gasoline in workplace assault.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There have been sometimes somebody shouts in protests.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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This grand procession of Edmonia’s work is an act of reclamation—a gathering in her name that shouts through stone and into the eons.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With something like military zeal, the former soldier who once itched to be on the front lines now talks up saving the world’s dwindling varieties of tomato seeds, as well as books about social inequality.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Soon, his trajectory straightened, and yells filled the air.—
Jessica Camille Aguirre,
New Yorker,
2 May 2026
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At one point Blunt's character yells in exasperated, rapid-fire Italian at a protesting Versace when they're interrupted by Hathaway.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
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After a gobbler sounds off, try to move within 200 yards of his position, (150 yards is better), and then choose your position.—
Bruce Brady,
Outdoor Life,
8 Apr. 2026
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Here Merry sounds off on all these topics and more.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Teddy’s babyish voice pipes up from the back seat.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speaks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaks%20up. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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