talk truth to power

A form of speak truth to power — To address facts to an authority or a superior, especially in the face of risk to oneself.

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Meanings

verbtalk truth to power (third-person singular simple present talks truth to power, present participle talking truth to power, simple past and past participle talked truth to power)

present singular third person talks truth to power · participle present talking truth to power · participle past talked truth to power · past talked truth to power

  1. alternativeAlternative form of speak truth to power.

    The idea that Western media is run by fair-minded people who are independent, driven only by a desire to talk truth to power, is a mirage.

    2023 February 21, Chandran Nair, “Anti-China Rhetoric Is Off the Charts in Western Media”, in The Diplomat
Cite this entry
APA

talk truth to power. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/talk%20truth%20to%20power

MLA

“talk truth to power.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/talk%20truth%20to%20power. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “talk truth to power,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/talk%20truth%20to%20power.

Source: talk truth to power on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.