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

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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
Three executives developed a session charter and agenda, clarified the purpose and prepared key speaking points. — Angela Cusack, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Since his sentencing, Taylor has received his GED and taken courses on personal finance, public speaking, world religions and drawing. — Aki Nace, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
According to state police, the trooper allegedly spotted what looked like a firearm near the center console while speaking to Elliott-Guillory. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026 It should be noted the NFL is rife with rumors and none of the sources speaking about Sanders are directly tied to his family. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 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
  • Through the administration’s embrace (and extensive personal leveraging) of crypto’s potential, crypto and retail speculation are increasingly being woven into the fabric of communicative and cultural spaces.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The arrival ceremony suggested that others understood the communicative potential of clothes at such an event, too.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of communicative
Noun
  • The actress and her styling team let the dress do the talking and paired it with the minimalist Paris Texas Lidia Mules in metallic silver.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The show is one of the big talking points at the MIPCOM international TV market in Cannes this year, where stars Amell and Nader are promoting.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of talking
Verb
  • Sandrich also spoke about the importance of audiences seeing themselves reflected on screen, saying that the series’ commitment to authentic casting extended to changing a character’s gender to get the casting right.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, officers are pushing back, saying the cuts will hurt public safety.
    — Veronica Macias, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of saying
Verb
  • For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The bald guy lecturing me on how to get the money looked real enough, but the question of his true being kept rattling around my increasingly paranoid mind.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Adjective
  • With verbal chops like those, who needs an articulate press secretary?
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Tyson is at once scary, funny, personable, distasteful, introspective, superficial, articulate and incoherent.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of articulate
Verb
  • The first one, released in 1986, featured Stevie Ray Vaughan playing guitar in front of a huge Texas flag and uttering the now-famous slogan into the camera.
    — Katie Standing, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Brennaman was off the air for four years after uttering a homophobic slur on a live microphone during a Cincinnati Reds game.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of uttering
Verb
  • The ad also accuses his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, of telling lies about him.
    — Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Our weak college presidents have avoided telling the truth for too long.
    — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of telling
Verb
  • Using one term as shorthand for another can blur information patients may be looking for when reading about a medication or discussing a prescription with a provider.
    — Emma Clapp, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Jurors are now discussing hours of video and several witness and expert testimonies.
    — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on speaking

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speaking

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