pep talk

noun

: a usually brief, intense, and emotional talk designed to influence or encourage an audience

Examples of pep talk in a Sentence

The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game. She needs a pep talk.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another scene features a poster of Megan Fox coming to life and giving Benny a pep talk before a potential hook up with a guy. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 15 May 2025 Support The Long Haul, Not Just The Creative Spark Inspirational leadership gets attention, but sustaining creativity over time takes more than a great pep talk. Janine MacLachlan, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 And, on the night when his beloved Tennessee Titans football team made news for snagging quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Jelly Roll admitted that his pep talk to the team before their dismal 3-13 season last year may have been a mistake. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2025 The event was part town hall, part catharsis, part pep talk. Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pep talk

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pep talk was in 1913

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pep talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pep%20talk. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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