as in shouted
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 spoke up
Colleagues remembered Mayra as a dedicated educator and active member of the teachers union who spoke up to support the needs of her students and fellow staff members.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
After a while, a man whose son was shot to death in July spoke up.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
Frustrated, the guests spoke up for a second instance.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
A number of other political figures from Kentucky spoke up on social media after Dale's death, announced by Barr’s campaign on Christmas.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Dec. 2025
El-Amin spoke up on civil rights and social issues in an effort to fight for justice.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
And yet if a player spoke up about it—or made a joke on social media—they’d be slapped with a fine from the league.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Skinner, who won silver in vault at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, spoke up about the issue earlier this year, and is now taking a harder stance.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Henrikson spoke up at several board meetings and gave interviews to multiple news outlets as the story about Rupert gained regional and national attention.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
After a while, a man whose son was shot to death in July spoke up.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025
Frustrated, the guests spoke up for a second instance.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
A number of other political figures from Kentucky spoke up on social media after Dale's death, announced by Barr’s campaign on Christmas.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Dec. 2025
El-Amin spoke up on civil rights and social issues in an effort to fight for justice.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
And yet if a player spoke up about it—or made a joke on social media—they’d be slapped with a fine from the league.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
Skinner, who won silver in vault at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, spoke up about the issue earlier this year, and is now taking a harder stance.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Henrikson spoke up at several board meetings and gave interviews to multiple news outlets as the story about Rupert gained regional and national attention.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoke up
Verb
-
The crowd, rapidly swelling into the hundreds, screamed insults and obscenities at the agents, some of whom shouted back mockingly.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Romance is celebrated, seen and shouted from rooftops during this time, as this is primetime for falling in love or reigniting passion.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The net grew wider as the politicized Justice Department targeted city and state public officials who spoke out.—
Kica Matos,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
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That echoes the account of another parent, Quasheema Frye, who previously spoke out to PEOPLE after a substitute in the school district raised concerns on social media.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The kids were up at daybreak, congregating beneath the parachute, having already swung on the rope swing, picked on one another, cried a little, and gotten into a cooler of sodas.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Jane and Darlene have both cried on the runway recently.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the last year or so, health influencers — and a lot of women on social media — have talked up testosterone therapy as a kind of perimenopausal panacea.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
25 Dec. 2025
-
While each talked up their AI strategy, analysts focused on the scale of the investments and how these plans will start translating to tangible returns.—
Alex Harring,Yun Li,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Men in nearby cells also yelled for help, the lawsuit says.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Some yelled at dispatchers, others were calm.—
Nichole Manna,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When the crowd got a chance to ask questions, a rancher piped up.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
24 Nov. 2025
-
Republican Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz piped up in defense of Kimmel’s right to free speech without governmental interference.—
Sarah Stankorb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
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Both intruders allegedly fled when the man was able to activate the home’s panic system, which sounded off an audible alarm, police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoke%20up. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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