How to be a Better Writer (For Beginners)

Synonyms for "Said"

Ah, yes! The dreadful word that can easily bore the reader!

Well, let me ask you something. How many times have you felt like you were overusing this word? Now don't get me wrong. "Said" is a good word to show that Sarah said this or Ryan said that, but are you looking for other words other than "said" to spice up your writing just a tad?

Well, look no further! I've got the antidote to all of your life's problems! (Not really, sorry. But keep confiding in your therapist because I can't help you with everything here, haha.)

As writers, we struggle with a lot. Not only are we in charge of our own character's lives, yet we also have to know how tell our character's stories in a way that is intriguing and perfectly stable and plot-inducing. As you probably already know, you can't write a story without furthering the plot, inch by inch. If you do not feel like you are delving into the story and having it move along then it is probably because it isn't.

"Said" is one word that can stump writing pretty easily as it cannot open the doors to what the characters are actually feeling. "Said" is a dull word that can only let your readers in on what your character had just said although not how they said what they did and their emotions while saying it.

Here are some words to help stimulate your writing and hopefully open up your vocabulary for your writing endeavors!

I have found this on Tumblr a while ago and decided to share it as well as add more synonyms to it so you all have more to choose from. This list has been really helpful for me and I am finally able to find words for the situation and emotion of a moment for my characters and what they are saying instead of just stating things like, "Here are some angry words for said." or "Here are some happy words for said."

Feel free to screenshot!

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IN RESPONSE TO
Acknowledged
Approved
Answered
Protested

INPUT/JOIN CONVERSATION/ ASK
Added
Implored
Inquired
Insisted
Interrupted
Interjected
Proposed
Supposed
Queried
Questioned
Recommended
Testified

GUILTY/RELUCTANCE/SORRY
Admitted
Apologized
Conceded
Confessed
Professed

FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Advised
Criticized
Inferred
Suggested

JUST CHECKING
Confirmed
Affirmed
Agreed
Alleged

LOUD
Announced
Chanted
Squawked
Roared
Boomed
Addressed
Crowed
Bellowed

LEWD/CUTE
Appealed
Disclosed
Moaned

ANGRY/FUCK OFF MATE/WANNA FIGHT
Argued
Barked
Challenged
Spat
Cursed
Chided
Fumed
Growled
Hissed
Roared
Swore

SMARTASS
Articulated
Asserted
Assured
Avowed
Claimed
Commanded
Cross-examined
Demanded
Digressed
Directed
Foretold
Instructed
Predicted
Proclaimed
Quoted
Theorized

ASSHOLE
Bellowed
Boasted
Bragged

NERVOUS TRAINWRECK/ANXIOUS AF/SCARED
Babbled
Blabbered
Quavered
Bawled
Mumbled
Sputtered
Stammered
Gulped
Stuttered

SUAVE MOTHERFUCKER/CHARMING VILLAIN
Bargained
Divulged
Disclosed
Jested
Exhorted

FIRST OFF
Began

LASTLY
Concluded
Infered
Concurred
Presumed

YOU COWARD
Begged
Blurted
Complained
Whined
Cried
Faltered
Fretted

HAPPY/LOL
Cajoled
Exclaimed
Gushed
Jested
Chortled
Joked
Laughed
Bantered
Chattered
Chuckled

WEIRDLY HAPPY/EXCITED
Extolled
Jabbered
Cheered
Raved
Blabbered

BRUH, CHILL
Cautioned
Pacified
Admonished
Urged
Warned
Stressed

ACTUALLY, YOU'RE WRONG
Chided
Contended
Corrected
Countered
Debated
Elaborated
Objected
Ranted
Retorted

CHILL SAVAGE/SLY
Commented
Continued
Observed
Speculated
Inferred
Implied
Surmised

LISTEN BUDDY
Enunciated
Explained
Elaborated
Hinted
Implied
Lectured
Reiterated
Recited
Reminded
Stressed

I NEED YOU & YOU NEED ME
Confided
Offered
Promised
Urged
Implored

I'M FINE
Consented
Decided

I’M NOT ACTUALLY FINE/EMO/ANGSTY/HURT/SAD
Croaked
Lamented
Pledged
Sobbed
Sniffled
Blubbered
Bawled
Grunted
Sympathized
Wailed
Squeaked
Whimpered
Wept

JUST SAYING
Declared
Decreed
Mentioned
Noted
Pointed out
Postulated
Speculated
Stated
Told
Vouched

WASN'T ME/IDK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
Denied
Lied
Refused

EVIL SMARTASS
Dictated
Equivocated
Ordered
Reprimanded
Threatened

BORED/WHATEVER
Droned
Sighed
Grumbled
Groaned
Dismissed
Guessed
Supposed
Ventured

SHHH, IT'S QUIET TIME
Echoed
Mumbled
Murmured
Muttered
Uttered
Whispered

DRAMA QUEEN
Exaggerated
Panted
Pleaded
Prayed
Preached

OH SHIT
Gasped
Marveled
Screamed
Screeched
Shouted
Shrieked
Yelped
Yelled

OKAY, YOU'RE STARTING TO PISS ME OFF NOW/ANNOYED
Grumbled
Grunted
Jeered
Quipped
Scolded
Snapped
Snarled
Sneered

THE ONE BEING ANNOYING/BULLY/INSULTING
Nagged
Instigated
Scoffed
Sneered
Taunted
Belittled
Mocked
Tattled
Teased

I'M DRUNK OR BEING WEIRDLY EXPRESSIVE FOR A POINT/SARCASM
Hooted
Howled
Gurgled
Yowled
Yodeled
Warbled

HM, I WONDER
Pondered
Suspected
Mused
Voiced
Wondered

OH YEAH, WHOOPS
Recalled
Recited
Remembered

SURPRISE BITCH
Revealed
Unveiled
Proclaimed

ACTUALLY FUNNY BUT DON'T WANNA LAUGH OUT LOUD
Scoffed
Snorted
Snickered

YOU DISAPPOINT ME
Reproach
Exhaled
Rebuke