Writer's Guide

Said Substitutes

Said Substitutes

It's very easy to use the word "said" way too often. Particularly for new writers. Here is a list of handy alternatives separated into categories.

Angry... thundered, miffed, spat, sneered, seethed, fumed, retorted, raged, blurted, rumbled, grated, blustered, bristled, demanded, shouted, bellowed, snapped, yelled, hissed, threatened, glowered, roared, protested, scowled, flared up, ground out, snarled, lashed out, huffed, gruffed, grumbled, cursed,

Argument... denied, bristled, challenged, countered, blustered, scowled, retorted, fired back, snapped, snapped back, spat, rebuked, insinuated, contended, asserted, declared, proclaimed, insisted, alleged, defended, accused, argued, challenged, evaded,

Advocate... suggested, recommended, prescribed, advised, advocated, supported, urged, promoted, proposed,

Ask... inquired, ventured, questioned, quiried, asked, demaned, wondered, requested

Answer... acknowledged, retorted, replied, responded, rejoined, repeated, affirmed, conceded, confessed, explained, answered, declared, admitted, disclosed, denied, nodded, detailed, speculated,

Add... amended, added, put in, chimed in, thrust in, through in,

Admit... confessed, acknowledged, conceded, admitted, disclosed, divulged, revealed,

Brag (smug)... smirked, boasted, crowed, gloated, bragged, beamed,

Bossy... dictated, reprimanded, commanded, chastised, demanded, directed, insisted, bossed, preached, lectured, professed, ordered, scolded, instructed, declared, decided, dismissed, announced, beckoned, decreed,

Begging... pleaded, beseeched, implored, asked, requested, groveled, sniveled, begged,

Casually... observed, noted, told, mentioned, intoned, remarked, stated, replied, spoke

Dying... croaked, gasped, sobbed, coughed, wheezed, rasped, rasped out, choked out, gurgled,

Discussion... maintained, stated, insisted, claimed, reasoned, advocated, explained, corrected, countered, commented, admitted, reminded, conceded, replied, proposed, shared

End of discussion... shrugged, decided, dismissed, promised, reassured, concluded,

Excitement... yelled, shouted, exclaimed, babbled, gushed, declared, ranted,

Encourage... prompted, coaxed, taunted, provoked, counseled, suggested, prodded, offered, urged, challenged, pushed,

Frightened... stuttered, stammered, shuddered, whispered, trembled, quivered, blurted out, quaked, babbled, spluttered, shrieked,

Gay... lisped, twinkeled, gushed, declared, sang, charmed,

Group... chorused, cheered, booed, recited, chanted, applauded, jeered,

Happy... rejoiced, giggled, sang out, crowed, laughed, gushed, joked, cackled, smiled, beamed, grinned,

Haste... blurted, babble, snapped,

Hello... greeted, welcomed, acknowledged, addressed, introduced,

Impressed... marveled, gapped, admired, applauded

Interrupted... thrust in, through in, interjected, volunteered, interrupted, burst in,

Lazy... drawled, droned, mumbled, shrugged,

Logic... reasoned, surmised, infered, theorized, hypothesized, deduced, concluded, contemplated, mused, pondered, speculated, calculated,

Laughing... hooted, chaffed, chuckled, gibed, disparaged, belittled, fleered, scoffed, chortled, sniggered, tittered, guffawed, giggled, laughed,

Mocking... jeered, teased, ridiculed, derided, joked, insulted, parodied, chaffed, taunted, teased, flouted, degraded, sneered, disdained, gibed, disparaged, belittled, swiped, scorned, repudiated, lampooned, scolded, amused, mocked, balked

Neutral... told, voiced, mentioned, intoned, remarked, stated, replied, spoke

Observed... noticed, observed, pointed out, acknowledged, noted, indicated,

Pained... yelped, cried, wailed, barked, cried out, screamed, jabbered, groaned, howled, bellowed, shrieked, grieved, roared, winced, whimper,

Rude... blabbed, snickered, snorted, gruffed, interupted,

Repeated... echoed, reiterated, repeated, mimicked,

Religion... preached, addressed, gospelized, proclaimed, expounded, evangelized, lectured, chanted, prophesied,

Report... testified, reported, described, witness, remarked,

Subordinate... reported, requested, informed

Surrender... acquiescenced, accepted, agreed, complied, conceded, shrugged, surrendered,

Sad... sobbed, sighed, wept, cried, bawled, blubbered, agonised, lamented, mourned, groaned, snivelled, sniffed, whimpered, grieved,

Sick... mumbled, muttered, murmured, wheezed, panted, croaked, gasped, sobbed, coughed, wheezed, rasped, choked out,

Stated... told, asserted, concluded, explained, reported, noted, remarked, specified, informed,

Sexy... oozed, purred, tempted, coaxed, enticed, persuaded, baited, lured, charmed, gushed, urged, beguiled, leered,

Surprized... exclaimed, gasped, squeeked, blurted out, balked,

Suggestive... implied, insinuated, hinted, suggested, alleged,

Storytelling... began, recounted, related, continued, resumed, emphasized, remembered, recalled, concluded, told,

Sympathetic (empathy)... accepted, consoled, empathized, comforted, agreed, sympathized, encouraged, reassured, soothed

Silently... wonered, pondered, contimplated, thought

Tired... mumbled, muttered, murmured, wheezed, panted, gasped, huffed, puffed, groaned,

Unpleasant voiced... bleated, screeched, squeaked, squawked, barked, hissed, cackled, bellowed, rasped, shrilled, whined, clomplained,

Volume... hushed, whispered, stage whispered, sighed, muttered, murmured, squeaked, voiced, exclaimed, barked, called, yelled, shouted, screamed, shrieked, boomed, thundered,

Very Unique... realized, translated, lied, assured, mused, sputtered, cooed, congratulated, gasped, vowed, warned, cautioned, beckoned, empathized, accepted, complimented, apologized, confirmed, guessed, gagged, retched, blushed, specified, clairified,