SPOKE UP Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

spoke up

verb

past tense of speak up

as in shouted

to voice one's opinions freely with force she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings

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 up Not long after Cowdray, the Dorchester president, got up to present, Opperman spoke up. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 The actress, 47, brought up a moment when most members of the cast spoke up to ask for a change from the writers. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 According to Dogen, the confusion ended only after one of his children spoke up. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 History is full of examples of officers who also spoke up about the ethics and strategic implications of the president’s choices. — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 As the album circulated, country elders spoke up regarding even bigger Q hits, and a fuller picture of his catalog emerged. — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 1 June 2026 But not one of them spoke up during the meeting so the meeting moved forward. — Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Jack Osbourne spoke up in defense of the AI avatar of Ozzy Osbourne that was announced last week. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026 And then Morton spoke up, and told them no more crying. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoke up

Verb

One shopper shouted out the spacious front pockets, and another loved their sporty vibe.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto/Getty Protesters shouted slogans denouncing the police and government over alleged delays in taking action to find the missing girl, and then to find the perpetrators.

— Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shouted

Verb

Among the critics who spoke out against the Met’s plans to honor Galliano were Anti-Defamation League National Director and Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt and New York City County Speaker Julie Menin.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Clancy spoke out in the courtroom during the trial, without taking the witness stand and being questioned.

— Dr. Susan Hatters Friedman, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of spoke out

Verb

In his absence, Van de Ven, whom De Zerbi has talked up as the best left-sided centre-back in Europe, stepped up and played the best and most consistent stretch of the season.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
In a timely interview with Mel as the festival began on Wednesday, Nazzaro talked up The Green Eyes, a pic from Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s that addresses deportation.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of talked up

Verb

When the boy and his grandmother got into difficulty in the water, his siblings, ages 4 and 6, yelled to attract the attention of bystanders.

— Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Defiant, Mladic acted bullishly during his trial and yelled at the judges when sentenced to life in prison.

— Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of yelled

Verb

Regardless, fans on social media sounded off about the lack of grandstand seats (tickets to the event were free and sold out quickly).

— Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
During a virtual listening session hosted last week by the inspector general’s office, dozens of people sounded off on the department’s use of Flock cameras.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026