speaking 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of speakingnext
as in talking

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Dissimilar Words

speaking

2 of 3

noun

as in communication

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Dissimilar Words

speaking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of speak
1
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words finally spoke her fears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lecturing
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject the Mayanists have been invited to speak about their latest archaeological discoveries

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 speaking
Adjective
After losing his natural speaking voice, Kilmer turned to an AI software company to digital recreate his voice. — Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 Each is distinct and immersively imagined by author Woody Brown, himself a non-speaking person. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Parallax Films holds worldwide exclusive sales rights (excluding German speaking territories, Taiwan, and Singapore) and non-exclusive rights for all other regions in Southeast Asia. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Few things compare to the applause, trophies and recognition, but public speaking gives her a taste of that adrenaline. — ABC News, 13 July 2026
Verb
Even if a majority of the diaspora doesn’t support Hindu nationalism, Viswanath said not enough are speaking against it. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 An outbreak that started among German-speaking Mennonites in Bolivia crossed the border into Peru and was then amplified by visitors to large cultural festivals who brought the virus home with them. — Kathryn H. Jacobsen, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speaking
  1. communicative
  2. talking
  3. saying
  4. lecturing
  5. articulate
  6. uttering
  7. telling
  8. discussing
Adjective
  • Now, from membership in the Nazi Party to the facts behind family lineage or legends, communicative memory no longer has the final word.
    — Fern Schumer Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Steering is accurate without being particularly communicative, but that's perfectly appropriate for this car.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
Definition of communicative
Noun
  • This is actually relevant to some of the talking points that are out there as the league and union fight over a cap.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But that was a talking point of the administration to justify scaling back these monuments.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of talking
Verb
  • On Monday, those five writers — also DSA-LA members — panned the idea of an endorsement, saying Raman hasn’t earned it.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of saying
Verb
  • Approaching hesitant individuals Health experts said that addressing vaccine-hesitant people starts with listening rather than lecturing.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Today, young people are increasingly frustrated with the hypocrisy of politicians lecturing them about the virtues of voting while in practice facilitating disengagement.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Adjective
  • In his interviews, Richard was charismatic, articulate, and confident.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Being articulate is still useful, but articulation alone is no longer much of an advantage.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of articulate
Verb
  • The other was a tearing beauty, a creature so lovely that one look at her sent young men’s blood pressure skyward and set them to uttering wild, hoarse cries and tearing telephone directories apart with the bare hands.
    — John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026
  • All season, Shamea and Porsha have circled each other, barely uttering a direct word, but the tensions seep to the rest of the group, trickling into every interaction.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of uttering
Verb
  • Those are police officers and people up high at CPD, literally calling me, meeting with us, telling us that morale’s at an all-time low.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Dawadi ordered those already there to leave and called bus drivers, telling them to only stop at safer places.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of telling
Verb
  • When discussing his current mental state, Jake was forthcoming about how difficult this time period has been.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The current proposal is not final, and the school board is expected to continue discussing the plan through the fall before taking any action.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of discussing

Phrases Containing speaking

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speak (for)
speaking
speaking (about)
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Cite this Entry

“Speaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speaking. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on speaking

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speaking

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