Said is Dead Lists

As an author, you would see the phrase “said is dead” everywhere. On your Pinterest board, on random writing websites, or this phrase was even said by your 7th-grade middle school teacher when you were writing narratives that were worth billions of points. But what does it even mean?

The word “said” normally has a neutral connotation. It doesn’t lean towards any emotional aspects. It’s just there.

So, in a way to suck your readers into your story, you need them to feel your book. You need them to feel the way the dialogue is said in a way to suck them into the story.

You could use words like “grinned” or “sobbed” to give more emotion to the story so they don’t sound like robots.

Alphabetized

A

Accused - Acknowledged - Added - Addressed - Admitted - Advertised - Advised - Affirmed - Agreed - Alleged - Allowed - Announced - Answered - Apologized - Approved - Argued - Articulated - Asserted - Assumed - Assured - Attacked

B

Babbled - Bargained - Bantered - Barked - Bawled - Beckoned - Began - Begged - Bellowed - Belted - Blabbed - Blasted - Blubbered - Blurted - Boasted - Boomed - Bragged - Breathed

C

Cackled - Called - Cautioned - Charged - Chanted - Cheered - Chimed - Chirped - Choked - Chuckled - Claimed - Commanded - Commented - Complained - Concluded - Confessed - Confided - Consented - Consoled - Contested - Continued - Contradicted - Conveyed - Cooed - Corrected - Countered - Cracked - Cried - Croaked - Cut (in)

D

Dared - Debated - Decided - Declared - Declined - Deduced - Defended - Delivered - Demanded - Denied - Described - Dictated - Directed - Disagreed - Disclosed - Drawled - Droned

E

Echoed - Elaborated - Emphasized - Encouraged - Estimated - Exaggerated - Exclaimed - Exhaled - Explained - Exploded - Exposed - Expressed

F

Faltered - Feared - Foretold - Fumed

G

Gasped - Giggled - Gossiped - Granted - Grinned - Groaned - Growled - Grumbled - Grunted - Guessed - Gurgled - Gushed

H

Held (forth) - Hesitated - Hinted - Hissed - Hollered - Hooted - Howled - Huffed - Hummed

I

Implied - Implored - Indicated - Informed - Insisted - Instructed - Interjected - Interrogated - Interrupted - Intimidated - Introduced - Invited

J

Jested - Joked - Joshed - Judged - Justified

K

Kibitz

L

Laughed - Lectured - Lied - Listed

M

Mentioned - Mimicked - Moaned - Mocked - Mumbled - Murmured - Mused - Muttered

N

Nagged - Narrated - Noted - Noticed - Notified

O

Objected - Offered - Observed - Ordered

P

Panted - Peeped - Persisted - Persuaded - Piped - Pleaded - Pled - Pointed (out) - Pondered - Praised - Prayed - Preached - Predicted - Proclaimed - Promised - Prompted - Pronounced - Proposed - Protested - Proved

Q

Quiped - Quizzed - Quoted - Questioned

R

Rambled - Ranted - Rasped - Read - Reasoned - Reassured - Recalled - Recited - Recommended - Referred - Refused - Regretted - Rejoyced - Rejoined - Related - Relayed - Remarked - Remembered - Reminded - Repeated - Replied - Reported - Reprimanded - Responded - Restated - Resumed - Retorted - Roared - Roasted - Ruled

S

Sang - Sassed - Scoffed - Scolded - Scowled -  Screamed - Screeched - Shared - Shot (back) - Shouted - Shrieked - Sighed - Snapped - Snarked - Snarled - Sneered - Snickered - Sniffed - Snorted - Sobbed - Soothed - Sounded - Spat - Specified - Speculated - Spewed - Spoke - Sputtered - Squawked - Squealed - Stammered - Stated - Stormed - Stressed - Stuttered - Submitted - Suggested - Supposed - Swore

T

Talked - Tattled - Taught - Taunted - Teased - Tested - Testified - Thanked - Thought - Threatened - Thundered - Told

U

Urged - Uttered

V

Vented - Vocalized - Voiced - Volunteered - Vowed

W

Wailed - Warned - Went (on) - Wept - Wheezed - Whimpered - Whined - Whispered - Whistle - Whooped - Wished - Wondered (aloud)

Y

Yapped - Yawned - Yelled - Yelped

Z

Categorized

Arguing/Mad

Accused - Argued - Attacked - Bargained - Barked - Boomed - Countered - Dared - Demanded - Exclaimed - Exploded - Fumed - Gasped - Growled - Hissed - Hollered - Howled - Huffed - Insisted - Interjected - Lectured - Muttered - Nagged - Objected - Protested - Ranted - Rasped - Refused - Remarked - Reported - Reprimanded - Retorted - Roared - Roasted - Sassed - Scoffed - Scolded - Scowled - Screamed - Screeched - Shot (back) - Shouted - Shrieked - Snapped - Snarked - Snarled - Sneered - Snickered - Snorted - Spat - Sputtered - Squaked - Stormed - Swore - Tested - Threatened - Thundered - Yelled

Crying

Babbled - Begged - Blubbered - Choked - Cried - Croaked - Expressed - Mumbled - Murmured - Pled - Rasped - Regretted - Sobbed - Uttered - Vented - Wailed - Whimpered - Whined - Whispered

Emotionless

Acknowledged - Added - Addressed - Began - Called - Commented - Concluded - Continued - Conveyed - Corrected - Delivered - Dictated - Directed - Explained - Observed - Offered - Pointed (out) - Recommended - Relayed - Reported - Responded - Stated - Voiced

Happiness

Cackled - Chanted - Cheered - Chirped - Exclaimed - Gasped - Giggled - Grinned - Gushed - Hooted - Jested - Joked - Laughed - Mused - Praised - Rejoiced - Sang - Squealed - Vocalized - Voiced - Whistle - Whooped - Yapped