I typed up this list of synonyms for the sometimes overused word said for all the writers/novelists out there.
In some cases, it may be appropriate to to say: I said, he said or they said. In other cases, using a stronger verb (likes the ones below) is a much better choice than adding adverbs to modify “said.”
“Let’s go,” he whispered.
“Let’s go,” he said quietly.
Which of the above is stronger?
“Stop!” she cried.
“Stop!” she said loudly.
Point proven? Okay enough with these bad examples.
- Acknowledged
- Added
- Admitted
- Advised
- Agreed
- Announced
- Answered
- Approved
- Argued
- Articulated
- Assumed
- Assured
- Asked
- Babbled
- Bargained
- Bickered
- Began
- Begged
- Boasted
- Bragged
- Called
- Claimed
- Commanded
- Commented
- Complained
- Confirmed
- Cried
- Decided
- Declared
- Demanded
- Denied
- Described
- Discussed
- Dismissed
- Dictated
- Encouraged
- Emphasized
- Examined
- Enunciated
- Estimated
- Exclaimed
- Explained
- Expressed
- Feared
- Giggled
- Grinned
- Groaned
- Grilled
- Grunted
- Grumbled
- Hollered
- Indicated
- Inquired
- Insisted
- Interviewed
- Instructed
- Interrogated
- Laughed
- Lectured
- Lied
- Mentioned
- Moaned
- Mumbled
- Murmured
- Nagged
- Noted
- Notified
- Objected
- Observed
- Opposed
- Ordered
- Pleaded
- Pointed out
- Prayed
- Probed
- Proclaimed
- Predicted
- Prompted
- Provoked
- Questioned
- Reasoned
- Reassured
- Refuted
- Related
- Remarked
- Repeated
- Replied
- Responded
- Requested
- Restated
- Retorted
- Revealed
- Roared
- Ruled
- Scolded
- Screeched
- Screamed
- Shouted
- Shrieked
- Smirked
- Snapped
- Sneered
- Sobbed
- Spoke
- Sputtered
- Squealed
- Squabbled
- Stammered
- Stated
- Stormed
- Suggested
- Supplied
- Taunted
- Thought
- Told
- Urged
- Uttered
- Vented
- Vowed
- Yelled
- Wailed
- Warned
- Whined
- Whispered
- Whimpered
Please note the list below has been alphabetized to the best of my abilities.
Herminia Chow 