I got pretty fed up with looking for words to replace said because they weren’t sorted in a way I could easily use/find them for the right time. So I did some myself.
IN RESPONSE TO
Acknowledged
Answered
ProtestedINPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ASK
Added
Implored
Inquired
Insisted
Proposed
Queried
Questioned
Recommended
TestifiedGUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY
Admitted
Apologized
Conceded
Confessed
ProfessedFOR SOMEONE ELSE
Advised
Criticized
SuggestedJUST CHECKING
Affirmed
Agreed
Alleged
ConfirmedLOUD
Announced
Chanted
CrowedLEWD/CUTE/SECRET SPY FEEL
Appealed
Disclosed
MoanedANGRY FUCK OFF MATE WANNA FIGHT
Argued
Barked
Challenged
Cursed
Fumed
Growled
Hissed
Roared
SworeSMARTASS
Articulated
Asserted
Assured
Avowed
Claimed
Commanded
Cross-examined
Demanded
Digressed
Directed
Foretold
Instructed
Interrupted
Predicted
Proclaimed
Quoted
TheorizedASSHOLE
Bellowed
Boasted
BraggedNERVOUS TRAINWRECK
Babbled
Bawled
Mumbled
Sputtered
Stammered
StutteredSUAVE MOTHERFUCKER
Bargained
Divulged
Disclosed
ExhortedFIRST OFF
BeganLASTLY
Concluded
ConcurredWEAK PUSY
Begged
Blurted
Complained
Cried
Faltered
FrettedHAPPY/LOL
Cajoled
Exclaimed
Gushed
Jested
Joked
LaughedWEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED
Extolled
Jabbered
RavedBRUH, CHILL
Cautioned
WarnedACTUALLY, YOU’RE WRONG
Chided
Contended
Corrected
Countered
Debated
Elaborated
Objected
Ranted
RetortedCHILL SAVAGE
Commented
Continued
Observed
SurmisedLISTEN BUDDY
Enunciated
Explained
Elaborated
Hinted
Implied
Lectured
Reiterated
Recited
Reminded
StressedBRUH I NEED U AND U NEED ME
Confided
Offered
UrgedFINE
Consented
DecidedTOO EMO FULL OF EMOTIONS
Croaked
Lamented
Pledged
Sobbed
Sympathized
Wailed
WhimperedJUST SAYING
Declared
Decreed
Mentioned
Noted
Pointed out
Postulated
Speculated
Stated
Told
VouchedWASN’T ME
Denied
LiedEVIL SMARTASS
Dictated
Equivocated
Ordered
Reprimanded
ThreatenedBORED
Droned
SighedSHHHH IT’S QUIET TIME
Echoed
Mumbled
Murmured
Muttered
Uttered
WhisperedDRAMA QUEEN
Exaggerated
Panted
Pleaded
Prayed
PreachedOH SHIT
Gasped
Marveled
Screamed
Screeched
Shouted
Shrieked
Yelped
YelledANNOYED
Grumbled
Grunted
Jeered
Quipped
Scolded
Snapped
Snarled
SneeredANNOYING
NaggedI DON’T REALLY CARE BUT WHATEVER
Guessed
VenturedI’M DRUNK OR JUST BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM
Hooted
Howled
YowledI WONDER
Pondered
Voiced
WonderedOH, YEAH, WHOOPS
Recalled
Recited
RememberedSURPRISE BITCH
RevealedIT SEEMS FAKE BUT OKAY/HA ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT I DON’T WANT TO LAUGH OUT LOUD
Scoffed
Snickered
SnortedBITCHY
Tattled
Taunted
TeasedA nice reference list for those that can’t just think of what word they are looking for. But remember that using “said” isn’t a bad thing. “Said” is universal and versatile and each of these words have their own meaning, so it isn’t always interchangeable.
Alternatively, what I try to do is leave this stuff off entirely as often as possible, and match the dialogue to a sentence that lets the reader know who’s speaking and how.
She leaned forward until her lips brushed his ear. “Why don’t you leave that till tomorrow and come with me now.”
His eyes drifted away, hazy with memory, to the flickering lamp on the mantel. “Time was when our greetings didn’t include pulling weapons on each other.”
“I’ve got a surprise for you.” She tapped a pen coyly against her lips. “But you’re not going to like it very much.”
A bonus to this is that it helps keep the scene balanced between physical space and the characters’ headspaces (which avoids the infamous ‘talking heads’ phenomenon). It also gives you more places where you can slip in details of the physical setting.
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