SPEAK UP Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

speak up

verb

Definition of speak up

as in to speak out

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 speak up Even something as ordinary as speaking up in a meeting reminds you of your talents and skills. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 But when Cunningham said women’s sports should be for women, speaking up suddenly became the problem. — Jonathan Alpert Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 If something doesn’t seem right, both experts recommend speaking up immediately. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026 The generation that has encountered the impact of social media on their own and their friends’ mental and physical wellbeing is speaking up, loud and clear. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speak up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for speak up

Verb

The mere possibility of a project here has galvanized people like local fishing guide Matthew Schultz to speak out.

— Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Johnson, the East Moline Democrat who spurned membership on the working group, noted it was constituted by lawmakers who had publicly spoken out in support of Welch in the fallout over his handling of the Benton scandal.

— Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of speak out

Verb

People in surrounding cars gawked, waved and, in one instance, rolled down their windows to shout something that went unheard, as Bonelli explained that the van had internal cameras that were always on but not always being watched.

— Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
When reporters shouted questions about the bombshell conversation, the future king at the time simply chuckled, remained silent and carried on walking.

— Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of shout

Verb

Ellison was found lying on her bed after her roommates first discovered her 13-month-old child crying on a couch in the living room, according to Glowacz’s arrest report.

— Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
When Maybelle Blair, seated like a queen in a wheelchair, threw a ceremonial opening pitch on a misty August night, there might have been some crying in baseball.

— Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of cry

Verb

Festival director Jovan Marjanović was keen to talk up Paweł Pawlikowski’s opening film, Fatherland, and to pay tribute to a jury comprising the likes of president Emily Watson, Woody Harrelson and Diego Luna.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
With yesterday's Fauci fiasco behind us, all the talk up here on the Hill is about Todd Blanche.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of talk up

Verb

When a small raptor center in Southern California began caring for the most famous bald eagle on Earth, the keyboard veterinarians started piping up.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Every time a restaurant or other small business announces its closure, people pipe up on social media about what the business owner should have done to be successful.

— Gregg Olsen, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of pipe up

Verb

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
Other members of the cast have sounded off about Sheridan’s writing for the series in recent weeks.

— Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026