1
as in lectures
a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience
the guest of honor gave a short speech in appreciation of the award
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in languages
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
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Recent Examples of speeches
Their speeches focused on the people standing beside them, the women who came before them, and the next generation watching from the audience.
—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
There will also be an invite-only grand opening ceremony on June 18 with performances and speeches.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 12 June 2026
In one of the most powerful speeches of his pontificate, dedicated entirely to migration, Leo listed the rights of migrants to flee or remain.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
His speeches tend to circle the same themes — perseverance, self-belief, gratitude — without ever landing with the precision Jelly’s display.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
Honestly, Spurs icon Gregg Popovich, the man who denied the Knicks a parade 27 years ago, could have helped them out with a tape of one of his signature championship-round huddle speeches during San Antonio’s glory days.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Family members, friends and community supporters filled the stadium as graduates celebrated their milestone with speeches from student leaders, Salutatorian Kaitlyn Peck, Valedictorian Henry Pepich and school officials.
—Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Such speeches are rare and often become one of the most important of a pontificate.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
It’s been called one of the best political speeches ever delivered.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
There will also be an invite-only grand opening ceremony on June 18 with performances and speeches.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 12 June 2026
In one of the most powerful speeches of his pontificate, dedicated entirely to migration, Leo listed the rights of migrants to flee or remain.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
His speeches tend to circle the same themes — perseverance, self-belief, gratitude — without ever landing with the precision Jelly’s display.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
Honestly, Spurs icon Gregg Popovich, the man who denied the Knicks a parade 27 years ago, could have helped them out with a tape of one of his signature championship-round huddle speeches during San Antonio’s glory days.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Family members, friends and community supporters filled the stadium as graduates celebrated their milestone with speeches from student leaders, Salutatorian Kaitlyn Peck, Valedictorian Henry Pepich and school officials.
—Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Such speeches are rare and often become one of the most important of a pontificate.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
It’s been called one of the best political speeches ever delivered.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speeches
Noun
-
The agreement calls for an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and sets out expectations for the next phase of talks, which will tackle more challenging issues, mainly the future of Iran's nuclear program.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
That has tribes urgently seeking government-to-government talks with Interior Department officials in a bid to win an exemption, according to Blaine Harden of Inside Climate News.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Taiwan was also the first traceable point of the passing of the many Austronesian languages, said Victoria Chen, a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
If things seemed a little pricey at the concession stands, there were some bonding moments that fans of all languages could appreciate — especially those familiar with American football.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The fracas played out in heated sermons, editorials, and denominational meetings.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
His father was a Southern Baptist minister, and his Sunday morning sermons were broadcast on the radio in the afternoons.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
But more variations of Austronesian languages have been identified in Taiwan, accompanied with more intricate grammatical structures and expansive vocabularies, which has provided insights for linguists.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
The Moxley case has effectively been told three times across three different American vocabularies.—
Kate Casey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The greatest of all Fourth of July orations was delivered in 1852, on the 76th anniversary of American independence, by Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
Before his assassination at age 39 on April 4, 1968, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent a decade giving fearless orations and profound insights that continue to inspire generations, all deserving attention and consideration.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The xenophobic law meant that Yiddish-speaking Jews and Italians seeking to vote could be required to recite and write passages from the state Constitution, regardless of their level of education in their native tongues or whether their conduct as new Americans was exemplary.—
Robert Polner,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
Almost all of them speak in tongues additional to their native ones.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Key Figures That’s how many addresses the IRS provided Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a controversial data-sharing agreement, according to a new report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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While the difference between special and general taxes is usually defined by where the money goes, the state initiative – placed on the November 2026 general election ballot – also addresses where the money comes from.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Language is often a reflection of the culture that shapes it, impacting tone, idioms, dialects and even silence across regions.—
Ryan Kolln,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Probably because at the time many of the time signatures and chordal progressions that Miles used were over the head of a young guitar player still functioning in the blues and folk idioms.—
Steve Baltin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Speeches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speeches. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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