speech

noun

ˈspēch How to pronounce speech (audio)
Definition of speechnext
1
as in lecture
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in language
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication wanting to develop a writing system for his people, Sequoya created a system of 86 symbols representing all the syllables of Cherokee speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 speech Trump recognized several elderly veterans in his speech on the National Mall. — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 This pursuit is designed to intimidate lawful speech, pure and simple. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2026 Kidology, a Philadelphia-area pediatric therapy practice offering speech, occupational, physical, and ABA therapy for children with developmental delays. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Amanda McGonigle, who created social media accounts under the username CatsOnACouch, alleged in a federal complaint that she was denied entry to two public events because of her online speech. — Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for speech
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speech
  1. lecture
  2. language
  3. talk
  4. vocabulary
  5. address
  6. tongue
  7. oration
  8. dialect
Noun
  • Obama would use his Nobel lecture to deliver a beautiful encapsulation of this point of view.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • In January 2025, a federal judge ruled that portion of the ordinance overburdens free speech rights by prohibiting anyone from providing any lecture in any San Diego public park or beach.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of lecture
Noun
  • In a world order in rupture, international law remains the one language power still has to answer to.
    — Alain Berset, Time, 6 July 2026
  • Although it is celebrated primarily in Latin, Lauer said the language is only part of its appeal.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of language
Noun
  • Faculty activists are pressing UC to hold formal talks and speed up the timeline.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Instead of fighting with Whitney, Lindsay has a talk with Yvonne about how Lindsay ruined Yvonne’s wedding by making it all about her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of talk
Noun
  • American adults also tend to have a smaller vocabulary than those with an equivalent level of education did half a century ago.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • Reading for pleasure can also help build vocabulary and reading fluency while enhancing focus.
    — Michelle Kearney, The Conversation, 7 July 2026
Definition of vocabulary
Noun
  • Cetaphil’s formula addresses crepey skin by adding hydration, which helps to plump and smooth fine lines, while also working to rejuvenate skin cells and diminish signs of crepiness over time.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 July 2026
  • The vulnerability resides in the shadow MMU emulation, a process that translates host memory addresses to hypervisor memory addresses and vice versa.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
Definition of address
Noun
  • Instead people voted with their wallets and not a single person was harmed except maybe some marketing guys getting a tongue lashing.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • The oral microbiome is the community of more than 700 bacterial species that live across your teeth, tongue, cheeks, gums and tonsils, making the mouth the second most diverse microbial habitat in the human body after the gut.
    — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of tongue
Noun
  • Afterward, the orations turned to internal divisions, particularly those related to slavery.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026
  • The greatest of all Fourth of July orations was delivered in 1852, on the 76th anniversary of American independence, by Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Definition of oration
Noun
  • Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.
    — Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026
  • Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Definition of dialect

Phrases Containing speech

Browse Nearby Words

sped (up)
speech
speeches
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Cite this Entry

“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speech. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on speech

Nglish: Translation of speech for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speech

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