Editing my novel is a go. I got my novella back from my beta reader and one of the things she noted, was I keep using the words “said” and “replied” when describing who is speaking. So as I’ve been going through I’ve been trying to expand the vocabulary.
But it’s more than just expanding vocabulary. A lot of times using an alternative word can help further describe character’s mood or actions while using less words. Why use three words when one will do, right?
Examples
- “He snapped” instead of “he said angrily.”
- “He sung” instead of “he said in a sing-song voice.”
- “He congratulated” instead of “he said, happy for her.”
The list!
So, to help find the right word for the right emotion, I've complied a list of 230 expressions or words that can be used in place of "said." Check out the list of words below.
A
Accepted, Accused, Acknowledged, Admitted, Advertised, Affirmed, Agonized, Agreed, Alleged, Announced, Answered, Appealed, Articulated, Asked, Asserted, Assumed, Assured, Avowed
B
Babbled, Barked, Bawled, Beamed, Beckoned, Begged, Bellowed, Beseeched, Blubbered, Blurted, Boasted, Bossed, Breathed, Broadcasted
C
Cajole, Called, Carped, Cautioned, Chimed in, Choked, Chortled, Chuckled, Claimed, Comforted, Conceded, Concurred, Condemned, Conferred, Confessed, Confided, Confirmed, Consoled, Contend, Continued, Craved, Cried out, Criticized, Croaked, Crooned, Crowed
D
Declared, Defended, Demanded, Denoted, Dictated, Disclosed, Disposed, Distributed, Divulged, Drew
E
Emitted, Empathized, Encouraged, Entreated, Exclaimed, Explained, Exposed
F
Faltered, Finished, Fumed
G
Gawked, Giggled, Glowered, Grinned, Groaned, Growled, Grumbled, Gurgled
H
Hesitated, Hinted, Hissed, Hollered, Howled
I
Imparted, Implied, Implored, Indicated, Informed, Inquired, Insisted, Interjected, Interrupted, Invited
J
Jabbered, Jeered, Jested, Joked, Justified
L
Lamented, Laughed, Lectured, Leered, Lied
M
Maintained, Marked, Marveled, Mewled, Mimicked, Moaned, Mocked, Mourned, Murmured, Mused
N
Nagged, Needed, Nodded, Noted
O
Observed, Objected, Offered, Ordered
P
Panted, Pleaded, Pondered, Postulated, Preached, Premised, Presented, Presupposed, Proclaimed, Prodded, Professed, Promised, Proposed, Protested, Provoked, Publicized, Purred, Put in, Puzzled
Q
Quaked, Queried, Questioned, Quipped, Quivered, Quizzed, Quoted
R
Reassured, Raged, Ranted, Rejoiced, Released, Remarked, Remembered, Reminded, Repeated, Replied, Reprimanded, Requested, Required, Resounded, Retorted, Revealed, Roared
S
Sang, Scoffed, Scolded, Seethed, Shouted, Shrieked, Shrugged, Shuddered, Sighed, Snarled, Snivelled, Sobbed, Sought, Specified, Spluttered, Spread, Stammered, Stated, Stuttered, Stressed, Suggested, Supposed, Swore, Sung
T
Taunted, Teased, Tested, Testified, Theorized, Thundered, Touted, Trailed off, Transferred, Transmitted, Trembled
U
Understood, Urged, Uttered
V
Verified, Voiced, Vouched for
W
Wailed, Wanted, Warned, Went on, Wept, Wheezed, Whimpered, Whined, Whispered, Worried
Y
Yawned, Yelled, Yelped, Yowled