The are plenty of ways to describe the way a character is saying something, but these descriptions can interrupt the flow of a conversation. More often than not, it is preferred to simply say “he said” if at all possible, often to keep characters straight if it isn’t clear who is saying what. For all those other times, there are alternatives, and modifying “he said” with an adverb is still a no-no.
If you must, try these. This is not an exhaustive list, but it might give you a hint in the direction to go by looking it over.
Other words for “said” (in alphabetic order)
- Accepted, Accused, Acknowledged, Admitted, Advertised, Affirm, Agonized, Agreed, Alleged, Announced, Answered, Appealed, Apply for, Arranged, Articulated, Asked, Asserted, Asseverate, Assumed, Assured, Attract, Aver, Avow,
- Barked, Bawl, Bawled, Beamed, Beckoned, Begged, Bellowed, Beseeched, Blubbered, Blurted, Bossed, Breathed, Broadcast,
- Cajole, Called, Carped, Cautioned, Censured, Chimed in, Choked, Chortled, Chuckled, Circulate, Claim, Comforted, Conceded, Concurred, Condemned, Confer, Confessed, Confided, Confirm, Consoled, Contend, Continued, Crave, Cried out, Criticized, Croaked, Crooned, Crowed,
- Declared, Defend, Demanded, Denote, Dictated, Disclosed, Disposed, Disseminate, Distribute, Divulged, Drawled,
- Emitted, Empathized, Encourage, Encouraged, Entreated, Exact, Exclaimed, Explained, Exposed,
- Faltered, Finished, Fumed,
- Gawped, Get out, Giggled, Given, Glowered, Grieved, Grinned, Groan, Groaned, Growled, Grumbled,
- Handed on, Held, Hesitated, Hinted, Hissed, Hollered, Howled,
- Impart, Implied, Implored, Importune, Inclined, Indicate, Informed, Inquired, Insisted, Interjected, Invited,
- Jabbered, Joked, Justified,
- Keened,
- Lamented, Laughed, Leered, Lilted,
- Maintained, Make known, Make public, Marked, Mewled, Mimicked, Moaned, Mocked, Mourned, Murmured, Mused
- Necessitated, Needed, Noted,
- Observed, Offered, Ordered,
- Passed on, Pleaded, Postulated, Preached, Premised, Presented, Presupposed, Proclaimed, Prodded, Professed, Proffered, Promised, Promulgated, Proposed, Protested, Provoked, Publicized, Published, Puled, Put forth, Put out,
- Quaked, Queried, Quipped, Quivered, Quizzed,
- Raged, Ranted, Reckoned that, Rejoiced, Rejoined, Released, Remarked, Remonstrated, Repeated, Replied, Reprimanded, Requested, Required, Requisition, Retorted, Revealed, Roared,
- Said, Sang, Scoffed, Scolded, Seethed, Sent on, Settled, Shared, Shed tears, Shouted, Shrieked, Shrugged, Shuddered, Snarled, Snivelled, Sobbed, Solicited, Sought, Specified, Spluttered, Spread, Stammered, Stated, Stuttered, Stressed, Suggested, Supposed, Swore,
- Taunted, Teased, Testified, Thundered, Ticked off, Told, Told off, Tore a strip off, Touted, Trailed off, Transferred, Transmitted, Trembled, Trumpeted,
- Understood, Undertook, Upbraided, Uttered,
- Verified, Vociferated, Voiced, Vouched for, Vouchsafe,
- Wailed, Wanted, Warned, Weep, Went on. Wept, Wheedle, Whimpered, Whined, Whispered,
- Yawped, Yelled, Yelped,Yowled
Primary source (but added to): ajbarnett.hubpages.com/hub/400-Alternative-words-for-said
ThinkingSkull.com 