speech

noun

ˈspēch How to pronounce speech (audio)
Definition of speechnext
1
as in lecture
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in language
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication wanting to develop a writing system for his people, Sequoya created a system of 86 symbols representing all the syllables of Cherokee speech

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 speech Defense investment not ‘provocation’ China’s ⁠Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a ‌request for comment on Lai’s speech. — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2026 Following his speech, the video of Parton played and the beloved icon appeared on screen, as brilliant as ever. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026 The complex will include additional examination rooms; outpatient physical, speech and occupational therapy; rehabilitation; and neuroinfusion services. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 The family helplessly searched for the 20-year-old, who struggled with developmental delays and whose speech was at times difficult to understand. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speech
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speech
  1. lecture
  2. language
  3. talk
  4. vocabulary
  5. address
  6. tongue
  7. oration
  8. dialect
Noun
  • But the material provides him with plenty of legitimate reasons to be pissed, and the movie is never at risk of becoming a pedantic lecture.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The lecture last week focused on how anti-Mexican politics have always worked in Orange County and usually go on to be copied nationwide.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecture
Noun
  • Givenchy was also fascinating, as Marco de Vincenzo is forging a new language for accessories there.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Jordan Firstman and Matteo Lane were recently unveiled as the English-language voices of Jim and Lucien.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of language
Noun
  • Banijay founder and chairman Stephane Courbit later met with Zucker in New York, though full merger talks didn’t begin until the following year, once RedBird IMI had ended talks with ITV over ITV Studios.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Colombia’s government has canceled peace talks with the nation’s remaining rebel groups, as de la Espriella takes a hard line on crime.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of talk
Noun
  • The title comes from a phrase that became part of his creative vocabulary and began appearing in sketches whenever an absurd situation called for a perfectly incredulous response.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Under Quotidien’s famously flattering lights, Bieber’s signature beauty vocabulary came into particularly sharp focus.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of vocabulary
Noun
  • In her 2023 tax documentation, according to the audit report, this manager listed a Tennessee address as her home residence.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators tracked down the suspect after finding the email address linked to his X account and IP addresses associated with a residence in Grand Blanc.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of address
Noun
  • The heel of the shoe and its tongue tag also feature co-branding with Nigo and j-hope’s names on them and, instead of standard cotton laces, the sneakers have braided, multicolor ropes that pick up on the overall color scheme.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • And at Mugler, the mood was set before the first look appeared, with screens beaming erotic footage that included mating snails, sweaty skin, a woman’s tongue and two people kissing.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tongue
Noun
  • The grieving sibling held nothing back in his fiery funeral oration.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Afterward, the orations turned to internal divisions, particularly those related to slavery.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026
Definition of oration
Noun
  • Documenting many varieties is a way to not just share the language, but to illustrate how dialects of Pennsylvania Dutch differ and maybe even fill in each other’s gaps.
    — Eythana Miller, The Dial, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Italy is a unique country where every city has its own identity, architecture, traditions, flavors, dialects and even different ways of life.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of dialect

Phrases Containing speech

Browse Nearby Words

sped (up)
speech
speeches
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Cite this Entry

“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speech. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speech

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