505 Words Instead of "Said"

"Said" is an important but overused word in dialogue. Use some of the following words in your writing to produce more creative and precise sentences. Each word's appropriateness will depend on the context it is needed for. This list is an excellent starting place for your writing; however, words will vary in their formality and therefore their appropriateness for respective genres. I suggest only using words that you understand. This will help you avoid using words with connotations that may not fit the genre or tone of your writing.

A

1 abnegated
2 accepted
3 accused
4 acknowledged
5 added
6 addressed
7 admired
8 admitted
9 advertised
10 advised
11 affirmed
12 agonized
13 agreed
14 alleged
15 allowed
16 announced
17 answered
18 apologized
19 appealed
20 appraised
21 approved
22 argued
23 arranged
24 articulated
25 asked
26 assented
27 asserted
28 assessed
29 assuaged
30 assumed
31 assured
32 attempted
33 attracted
34 averred
35 averted
36 avoided
37 avowed
38 awakened

B

39 babbled
40 balled
41 bandied
42 barked
43 barracked
44 bawled
45 beamed
46 beckoned
47 began
48 begged
49 bellowed
50 bemoaned
51 beseeched
52 bet
53 blared
54 blasted
55 blathered
56 bleated
57 blubbered
58 blurted
59 blustered
60 boasted
61 booed
62 boomed
63 bossed
64 bragged
65 breathed
66 broadcasted
67 broke in
68 brooded
69 bubbled
70 bugged
71 burbled
72 burst
​

C

73 cackled
74 cajoled
75 called
76 carped
77 cat called
78 caterwauled
79 cautioned
80 censured
81 challenged
82 chanted
83 chatted
84 chattered
85 cheeped
86 cheered
87 chided
88 chimed in
89 chipped in
90 chirped
91 chirruped
92 choked
93 chortled
94 chorused
95 chuckled
96 circulated
97 claimed
98 clarified
99 clucked
100 coaxed
101 comforted
102 commanded
103 commented
104 communicated
105 complained
106 conceded
107 concluded
108 concurred
109 condemned
110 condescended
111 conferred
112 confessed
113 confided
114 confirmed
115 confused
116 congratulated
117 considered
118 consoled
119 contended
120 continued
121 convinced
122 cooed
123 corrected
124 coughed
125 counted
126 countered
127 countermanded
128 cowered
129 cried
130 cried out
131 criticized
132 croaked
133 crooned
134 crowed
135 cursed
136 cussed
​

D

137 dared
138 deceived
139 decided
140 declared
141 defended
142 deferred
143 deliberated
144 delivered
145 demanded
146 denied
147 denoted
148 denounced
149 described
150 detected
151 determined
152 dictated
153 disagreed
154 disambiguated
155 disclaimed
156 disclosed
157 disposed
158 disseminated
159 distributed
160 divulged
161 dogmatized
162 doubted
163 drawled
164 dribbled
165 dripped
​

E

167 egged on
168 elucidated
169 emitted
170 empathized
171 emphasized
172 encouraged
173 ended
174 enlisted
175 entertained
176 enthused
177 entreated
178 estimated
179 exacted
180 exaggerated
181 examined
182 exclaimed
183 explained
184 exposed
185 exposited
186 extolled
​

F

187 faltered
188 fancied
189 fibbed
190 finished
191 fired
192 flirted
193 forewarned
194 founded
195 fretted
196 fumed
​

G

197 gargled
198 gasped
199 gibed
200 giggled
201 gloated
202 glowered
203 gossiped
204 greeted
205 grieved
206 grinned
207 griped
208 groaned
209 growled
210 grumbled
211 grunted
212 guessed
213 guffawed
214 gulped
215 gurgled
216 gushed
​

H

217 harped on
218 heckled
219 held
220 hesitated
221 hinted
222 hissed
223 hollered
224 honked
225 hooted
226 hounded
227 howled
228 huffed
229 hummed
230 hypothesized
​

I

231 imitated
232 imparted
233 implied
234 implored
235 importuned
236 imposed
237 indicated
238 informed
239 ingratiated
240 inquired
241 insinuated
242 insisted
243 insulted
244 interjected
245 interlocuted
246 interrogated
247 interrupted
248 intimidated
249 intoned
250 investigated
251 invited
252 invoked
​

J

253 jabbed
254 jabbered
255 jeered
256 jested
257 joked
258 justified
​

K

259 keened
​

L

260 lamented
261 lashed
262 laughed
263 lectured
264 leered
265 lied
266 lilted
267 lisped
​

M

268 made known
269 made public
270 maintained
271 managed
272 marked
273 marveled
274 mentioned
275 mewed
276 mimicked
277 moaned
278 mocked
279 moralized
280 mourned
281 mumbled
282 murmured
283 mused
284 muttered
​

N

285 nagged
286 named
287 nattered on
288 necessitated
289 negated
290 nodded
291 noted
​

O

292 objected
293 observed
294 offered
295 oozed
296 ordered
​

P

297 panted
298 passed on
299 patronized
300 persisted
301 pestered
302 piped
303 pitched
304 placated
305 pleaded
306 pointed out
307 pondered
308 postulated
309 praised
310 prattled
311 prayed
312 preached
313 presented
314 presupposed
315 probed
316 proclaimed
317 prodded
318 professed
319 proffered
320 promised
321 promulgated
322 pronounced
323 proposed
324 protested
325 provoked
326 publicized
327 published
328 puffed
329 put forth
330 put in
331 put out
332 puzzled
​

​Q

333 quaked
334 quavered
335 queried
336 questioned
337 quipped
338 quizzed
339 quoted
​

R

340 raged
341 ranted
342 rasped
343 rattled on
344 reasoned
345 reassured
346 rebuked
347 recalled
348 reciprocated
349 reckoned
350 reckoned that
351 recounted
352 reflected
353 rejoiced
354 rejoined
355 related
356 relayed
357 released
358 relented
359 remarked
360 remembered
361 reminded
362 reminisced
363 remonstrated
364 repeated
365 replied
366 reported
367 reprimanded
368 reproached
369 requested
370 required
371 requisitioned
372 responded
373 restated
374 retold
375 retorted
376 returned
377 revealed
378 riposted
379 roared
380 roasted
381 rumbled
​

S

382 saluted
383 sang
384 sassed
385 scoffed
386 scolded
387 screamed
388 seduced
389 seethed
390 sent on
391 settled
392 shared
393 shot
394 shouted
395 shouted down
396 shrieked
397 shrilled
398 shrugged
399 shuddered
400 sighed
401 signaled
402 simpered
403 slurred
404 smiled
405 smirked
406 snapped
407 snarled
408 sneered
409 sneezed
410 snickered
411 sniffed
412 sniffled
413 sniggered
414 sniveled
415 snorted
416 snubbed
417 sobbed
418 solicited
419 soothed
420 sought
421 spat
422 specified
423 speculated
424 spelled out
425 spewed
426 spluttered
427 spoke
428 spouted
429 spread
430 sputtered
431 squeaked
432 squealed
433 stammered
434 started
435 stated
436 stipulated
437 stormed
438 stressed
439 stuttered
440 suggested
441 sulked
442 supposed
443 surmised
444 swore
​

T

445 talked down to
446 tattled
447 taunted
448 teased
449 tempted
450 termed
451 tested
452 testified
453 theorized
454 thought
455 threatened
456 thundered
457 ticked off
458 tittered
459 toasted
460 told
461 told off
462 tolerated
463 tormented
464 touted
465 trailed off
466 transferred
467 transmitted
468 trembled
469 tried
470 trilled
471 trumpeted
472 twittered
​

U

473 underestimated
474 understood
475 undertook
476 upbraided
477 urged
478 uttered
​

V

479 verified
480 voiced
481 volunteered
482 vouched for
483 vowed
​

W

484 wailed
485 wanted
486 warbled
487 warned
488 went on
489 wept
490 wheedled
491 wheezed
492 whimpered
493 whined
494 whinnied
495 whispered
496 wished
497 wondered
498 wooed
499 worried
​

Y

500 yakked
501 yawned
502 yawped
503 yelled
504 yelped
505 yowled
​