as in spoke up
to voice one's opinions freely with force
it's a free country, so anyone can speak out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 spoke out
The ex-cohost — who publicly slammed the talk show and longtime panelist Joy Behar in early 2025 — spoke out online against problematic college fraternity practices, amid recent headlines covering notable alleged hazing instances on campuses around the country.
—
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
North College Hill Council Member Kathy Cureton spoke out about the incident.
—Allie Hennard, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Feb. 2026
Residents also spoke out against the action.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
The Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition of artists’ rights groups affiliated with the Hollywood unions, also spoke out against the AI model on Friday.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Shofner held a press conference ahead of the meeting and, along with other activists and the family members of Jalin Seabron, spoke out against a resolution committing county support to Douglas County Sheriff's deputies who have been sued for their actions while working.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
More recently, the mayor spoke out against the county’s plan to cut $200 million in homeless services.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Francis also spoke out frequently a bout the positive values of teamwork and camaraderie in sport, especially for young people, and during his pontificate the Holy See began fielding track and cycling athletes in international competitions as team Atletica Vaticana.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
American governments would routinely speak up to support democratic champions who spoke out against regimes defined by a similar lexicon of terror in Latin America, Africa, or Asia.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
North College Hill Council Member Kathy Cureton spoke out about the incident.
—Allie Hennard, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Feb. 2026
Residents also spoke out against the action.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
The Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition of artists’ rights groups affiliated with the Hollywood unions, also spoke out against the AI model on Friday.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Shofner held a press conference ahead of the meeting and, along with other activists and the family members of Jalin Seabron, spoke out against a resolution committing county support to Douglas County Sheriff's deputies who have been sued for their actions while working.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
More recently, the mayor spoke out against the county’s plan to cut $200 million in homeless services.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Francis also spoke out frequently a bout the positive values of teamwork and camaraderie in sport, especially for young people, and during his pontificate the Holy See began fielding track and cycling athletes in international competitions as team Atletica Vaticana.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
American governments would routinely speak up to support democratic champions who spoke out against regimes defined by a similar lexicon of terror in Latin America, Africa, or Asia.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoke out
Verb
-
Tatum spoke up in a team meeting on Thursday, sharing a message of gratitude and appreciation that resonated with head coach Joe Mazzulla.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Fans spoke up—and KFC listened.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By now, the standard sound of rage rap — redlining drums deployed with abandon, frenetic, almost spastic chord arrangements, and often shouted, mantra-like lyrics delivered in an impassioned scream — has become a predictable shorthand for overtures to a younger audience.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Before and after the vote, people in the hearing room shouted at lawmakers and warned of the harm the bill could do.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Device makers have talked up a world where users may be able to ask their AI agents to call a cab or book a hotel.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Peterson had talked up head coach Bill Self’s KU program.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chan and Acosta beat Tay for more than seven minutes while Tay cried and begged for help and then forced Tay to drink rubbing alcohol and sealed his mouth with duct tape, authorities have said.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Her family cried nonstop and eventually decided to leave for the north near the Caspian Sea.—
Amin Khodadadi,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cooper’s big brother yelled excitedly when first responders arrived at the Vetta Sports Soccerdome in Webster Groves.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
-
At one point, Sumrall yelled at Florida’s punters.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The water is piped up to the data center for liquid cooling of the servers.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Mar. 2026
-
When the crowd got a chance to ask questions, a rancher piped up.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mayor Mamdani on Friday sounded off against ICE and issued an executive order aimed at putting an exclamation on point on the city’s existing sanctuary policies.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And months after its debut in October, Blue Bloods star Tom Selleck sounded off about the potential of him returning to his role of Frank Reagan.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The affair between Clark and Carol called for some fairly ridiculous, kinky and specific acts in a hotel room.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Boise State would hang around for the final two-minute period, which stretched to about 30 minutes of actual time, as both teams repeatedly sent each other to the free-throw line and called timeouts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoke%20out. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
