The Writer’s toolbox

Acknowledged

Show or express recognition.

Added

To say more.

Articulated

Expressed an idea or feeling fluently and coherently.

Stated

Expressed something definitely or clearly in speech.

Remarked

Made a comment or observation.

Bantered

Exchanged light, playful, teasing remarks.

Reported

Gave a spoken or written account of something.

Responded

Said something in reply; answered.

Replied

Said something in response to a question or statement.

Verified

Confirmed the truth or accuracy of something stated.

Agreed

Had the same opinion; concurred.

Concurred

Expressed agreement; shared the same opinion.

Counseled

Gave advice, especially in a formal setting.

Explained

Made an idea, situation, or problem clear by describing it in detail.

Clarified

Made a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible.

Answered

Said or wrote something as a reaction to a question.

Described

Gave a detailed account in words.

Outlined

Gave a summary of the main points of something.

Concluded

Said in conclusion; brought something to an end.

Testified

Formally stated something, especially in a court of law.

Reiterated

Said something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.

Corrected

Set right or made accurate; pointed out an error.

Announced

Made a formal public statement about a fact or intention.

Confirmed

Stated or showed that something is definitely true or accurate.

Informed

Gave information or knowledge; told.

Echoed

Repeated or reflected a sound or statement.

Quoted

Repeated words from a text or speech, typically with acknowledgment.

Recounted

Told a story or gave an account of an event.

Related

Told or narrated a story or series of events.

Remembered

Recalled and mentioned something from the past.

Repeated

Said again something already said.

Requested

Politely or formally asked for something.

Volunteered

Offered information or services freely without being asked.

Continued

Resumed speaking after a pause; carried on.

Finished

Brought speaking to an end; concluded.

Considered

Thought carefully about and expressed a potential idea.

Hypothesized

Put forward as a hypothesis; proposed an explanation.

Pondered

Thought about something carefully before speaking.

Proposed

Put forward an idea or plan for consideration.

Reasoned

Used logic and rationale to form a conclusion and express it.

Speculated

Formed a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

Surmised

Supposed that something is true without having evidence.

Theorized

Created a theory to explain something; speculated.

Observed

Remarked or commented, typically based on something seen.

Commented

Expressed an opinion or reaction.

Noted

Remarked upon; pointed out.

Opined

Held and stated an opinion.

Reckoned

Thought or believed, often informally.

Ventured

Dared to say something that might be doubted or opposed.

Wondered

Expressed a desire to know something or think about something.

Mused

Said something in a thoughtful or meditative manner.

Hinted

Suggested or indicated something indirectly.

Insinuated

Suggested or hinted at something unpleasant indirectly.

Supposed

Assumed or believed to be the case, often without proof.

Deduced

Reached a conclusion by reasoning; inferred.

Decided

Reached a resolution or conclusion and stated it.

Formulated

Expressed an idea in a concise or systematic way.

Postulated

Suggested or assumed the existence or truth of something.

Welcomed

Greeted someone warmly or with pleasure.

Greeted

Gave a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition.

Beamed

Spoke while smiling radiantly.

Chirped

Said something in a lively and cheerful way.

Thanked

Expressed gratitude.

Approved

Expressed a favorable opinion or agreement.

Praised

Expressed warm approval or admiration.

Complimented

Expressed a compliment; praised politely.

Congratulated

Expressed praise for an achievement or good wishes.

Rejoiced

Expressed great joy or happiness.

Celebrated

Acknowledged a significant event with joy.

Cheered

Shouted for joy or in praise or encouragement.

Whooped

Shouted or cried out loudly and excitedly.

Crowed

Said something in a gloating or triumphant tone.

Exulted

Showed or felt triumphant elation or jubilation.

Exclaimed

Cried out suddenly, especially in surprise, anger, or emotion.

Yapped

Talked in an annoying or persistent way.

Chattered

Talked rapidly about trivial matters.

Jabbered

Talked rapidly and excitedly but with little sense.

Rambled

Talked at length in a confused or inconsequential way.

Babbled

Talked rapidly and continuously in a foolish or excited way.

Chorused

Said something in unison with others.

Sang

Spoke in a melodious or rhythmic way.

Gushed

Spoke with excessive enthusiasm or admiration.

Grinned

Said something while smiling broadly.

Gurgled

Spoke in a low, happy, bubbling voice.

Hummed

Spoke in a low, steady voice.

Rhymed

Spoke in verse or with a rhythmic, poetic quality.

Admired

Expressed respect or warm approval.

Shared

Told others about something, often personal.

Confided

Told someone a secret or private matter in confidence.

Cooed

Spoke in a soft, gentle, and loving voice.

Flattered

Complimented excessively, often to please or persuade.

Flirted

Spoke in a playfully romantic or suggestive manner.

Purred

Spoke in a low, soft, pleased voice, often seductively.

Swooned

Spoke in an extravagantly enthusiastic or emotional way.

Blushed

Spoke while showing shyness, embarrassment, or modesty.

Joked

Said something meant to be funny or amusing.

Jested

Spoke in a joking or teasing manner.

Quipped

Made a witty or clever remark.

Mocked

Teased or laughed at in a scornful or contemptuous manner.

Sneered

Spoke with contempt or mockery.

Ridiculed

Spoke about someone or something in a derisive manner.

Snickered

Laughed in a half-suppressed, scornful way.

Tittered

Gave a short, nervous laugh.

Teased

Made fun of or provoked someone playfully.

Bantered

Exchanged light, playful, teasing remarks.

Cackled

Laughed in a loud, harsh, shrill way.

Chortled

Laughed in a breathy, gleeful way.

Chuckled

Laughed quietly or inwardly.

Guffawed

Laughed loudly and heartily.

Giggled

Laughed lightly in a nervous, silly, or amused way.

Simpered

Smiled or spoke in a silly, affected, or self-conscious way.

Smirked

Spoke with a smug, conceited, or silly smile.

Deadpanned

Said something in a deliberately impassive or matter-of-fact way.

Drawled

Spoke in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.

Encouraged

Gave support, confidence, or hope through speech.

Reassured

Said something to remove someone's doubts or fears.

Urged

Attempted earnestly or persistently to persuade.

Advised

Offered suggestions about the best course of action.

Recommended

Put forward something or someone as suitable.

Counseled

Gave advice, especially in a formal setting.

Soothed

Spoke in a calming, comforting, or tranquilizing way.

Comforted

Said something to lessen the grief or trouble of.

Consoled

Comforted someone at a time of grief or disappointment.

Admitted

Conceded to be true, often reluctantly.

Confessed

Admitted or acknowledged something, often a fault.

Revealed

Made previously unknown information known.

Disclosed

Made a secret or new information known.

Divulged

Revealed private or sensitive information.

Shared

Told others about something, often personal.

Apologized

Expressed regret for an action or offense.

Professed

Claimed or declared openly, sometimes falsely.

Promised

Assured someone that one will do something.

Snapped

Said something suddenly and sharply, often in anger.

Barked

Spoke sharply or aggressively.

Growled

Spoke in a low, harsh, menacing tone.

Shouted

Spoke very loudly.

Scoffed

Spoke about something with scornful mockery.

Grumbled

Complained in a low, muttered, or surly manner.

Taunted

Said something to provoke someone with insulting remarks.

Raged

Spoke with violent, uncontrollable anger.

Stormed

Spoke angrily and forcefully.

Lashed

Spoke critically or angrily to someone.

Fumed

Spoke while showing irritation or anger.

Exploded

Burst out into angry speech suddenly.

Spat

Said something in a sharp, angry, explosive way.

Snarled

Said something in a vicious, angry tone.

Threatened

Stated an intention to take hostile action.

Swore

Made a solemn promise or used profane language.

Ranted

Spoke at length in a wild, impassioned way.

Scolded

Reminded or criticized someone angrily.

Chastised

Reprimanded or rebuked severely.

Protested

Expressed an objection to what someone has said or done.

Gagged

To choke in disgust.

Sniffed

Spoke in a contemptuous or disapproving manner, often while audibly drawing air in through the nose.

Cringed

Spoke while bending the head and body in fear or apprehension.

Rasped

Spoke in a harsh, grating voice.

Sneered

Spoke with contempt or mockery.

Mocked

Teased or laughed at in a scornful or contemptuous manner.

Ridiculed

Spoke about someone or something in a derisive manner.

Whined

Spoke in a high-pitched, complaining, or feeble way.

Complained

Expressed dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.

Grumbled

Complained in a low, muttered, or surly manner.

Nagged

Annoyed or irritated by persistent fault-finding or urging.

Griped

Expressed a complaint, often about something trivial.

Groused

Complained or grumbled in a persistent, bad-tempered way.

Chided

Scolded or rebuked mildly.

Snorted

Made a sudden explosive sound through the nose to express scorn or disbelief.

Huffed

Spoke in an annoyed or offended way.

Badgered

Pestered or annoyed someone persistently.

Spluttered

Spoke in a rapid, confused, and explosive manner, often when excited or angry.

Snorted

Made a sudden explosive sound through the nose to express scorn or disbelief.

Objected

Expressed or raised an opposition or disagreement.

Smirked

Spoke with a smug, conceited, or silly smile.

Sassed

Spoke in a rude or disrespectfully impudent way.

Jeered

Made rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice.

Scoffed

Spoke about something with scornful mockery.

Snarked

Made a critical or cutting remark.

Ribbed

Teased good-naturedly.

Needled

Annoyed or provoked someone with persistent criticism or teasing.

Teased

Made fun of or provoked someone playfully.

Provoked

Stimulated or incited someone to react, often angrily.

Debated

Discussed a topic formally, arguing opposing views.

Disputed

Engaged in argument about something.

Retorted

Said something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp or angry way.

Interjected

Said something abruptly, especially as an interruption.

Denounced

Publicly declared to be wrong or evil.

Condemned

Expressed complete disapproval of.

Accused

Charged someone with an offense or crime.

Retaliated

Made an attack or insult in return for a similar one.

Countered

Responded to hostile speech or action with opposing speech/action.

Disagreed

Expressed a lack of agreement.

Argued

Gave reasons or evidence to support an idea or theory.

Bickered

Argued about petty and trivial matters.

Rebutted

Claimed or proved a statement to be false.

Refuted

Proved a statement or theory to be wrong.

Refused

Indicated or stated that one is not willing to do something.

Denied

Stated that something is not true.

Relinquished

Voluntarily ceased to keep or claim; gave up.

Demurred

Raised doubts or objections or showed reluctance.

Deflected

Turned aside from a subject or avoided addressing it directly.

Motioned

Used a gesture to direct or communicate.

Mouthed

Formed words silently with the lips.

Shrugged

Gestured with the shoulders to express indifference, ignorance, or doubt.

Scowled

Spoke with a frown expressing displeasure or anger.

Grimaced

Spoke while making a twisted expression of pain, disgust, or wry amusement.

Sobbed

Spoke while crying noisily, making loud, convulsive gasps.

Wept

Spoke while shedding tears.

Lamented

Expressed regret, disappointment, or grief about something.

Sniffled

Spoke while sniffing repeatedly, typically to stop tears or a runny nose.

Moaned

Spoke with a low sound expressing physical or mental suffering.

Groaned

Made a deep inarticulate sound conveying pain, despair, or pleasure.

Wailed

Uttered a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.

Cried

Shouted or screamed, especially to express a strong emotion.

Blubbered

Cried noisily and uncontrollably.

Bawled

Wept or cried loudly.

Whimpered

Made a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness.

Sniveled

Cried and sniffed in a feeble or fretful way.

Sighed

Emitted a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, relief, or tiredness.

Conceded

Admitted that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.

Relented

Abandoned a harsh intention or cruel treatment.

Acquiesced

Accepted something reluctantly but without protest.

Yielded

Ceased arguing; gave way to arguments, demands, or pressure.

Resigned

Accepted that something undesirable cannot be avoided.

Pleaded

Made an emotional appeal.

Begged

Asked someone earnestly or humbly for something.

Implored

Begged someone earnestly or desperately to do something.

Beseeched

Asked someone urgently and fervently to do something.

Entreated

Asked someone earnestly or anxiously to do something.

Appealed

Made a serious or urgent request.

Prayed

Made a earnest request or wish.

Shivered

Spoke with a slight trembling motion from fear, excitement, or cold.

Shuddered

Spoke with a sudden convulsive movement from fear, horror, or disgust.

Panted

Spoke with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement.

Yelped

Uttered a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm.

Squeaked

Spoke in a high-pitched voice or sound.

Squealed

Uttered a long, high-pitched cry of excitement, happiness, or terror.

Stammered

Spoke with sudden involuntary pauses and repetitions.

Faltered

Spoke hesitantly; wavered in speech.

Hesitated

Paused before saying or doing something, uncertainly.

Gulped

Swallowed nervously or with difficulty before speaking.

Fretted

Spoke while being constantly or visibly worried or anxious.

Stuttered

Spoke with involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.

Stumbled

Spoke with a temporary failure in concentration; hesitated or made a mistake.

Tried

Made an attempt or effort to say something.

Ventured

Dared to say something that might be doubted or opposed.

Wondered

Expressed a desire to know something or think about something.

Doubted

Felt uncertain about or questioned the truth of something.

Puzzled

Felt confused or perplexed about something.

Queried

Asked a question about something, especially to express one's doubts.

Lied

Said something that is not true.

Insinuated

Suggested or hinted at something unpleasant indirectly.

Mimicked

Imitated someone's speech or mannerisms, typically to entertain or ridicule.

Imitated

Copied the speech or behavior of someone.

Pretended

Behaved so as to make it appear that something is the case when it is not.

Feigned

Pretended to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury.

Ordered

Gave an authoritative command or instruction.

Commanded

Gave an order with authority.

Instructed

Directed or commanded someone to do something.

Asserted

Stated a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Assured

Told someone something positively to dispel any doubts.

Affirmed

Stated something as a fact; asserted strongly and publicly.

Stressed

Emphasized a point or statement.

Declared

Announced something clearly, firmly, and publicly.

Vowed

Solemnly promised to do a specified thing.

Insisted

Demanded something forcefully, not accepting refusal.

Maintained

Asserted something to be the case; stated strongly.

Attested

Provided or served as clear evidence of.

Persuaded

Convinced someone to do something through reasoning or argument.

Coaxed

Gently and persistently persuaded someone to do something.

Cajoled

Persuaded someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

Tempted

Enticed or attempted to persuade someone to do something.

Dared

Had the courage to say something challenging or provocative.

Goaded

Provoked or annoyed someone to stimulate a reaction.

Pressed

Made a strong, persistent attempt to persuade.

Prompted

Incited or moved to action; reminded someone of something they've forgotten.

Prodded

Stimulated or persuaded someone who is reluctant.

Testified

Formally stated something, especially in a court of law.

Proclaimed

Announced officially or publicly.

Professed

Claimed or declared openly, sometimes falsely.

Announced

Made a formal public statement about a fact or intention.

Lectured

Delivered an educational talk or reprimanded at length.

Asserted

Stated a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Declared

Announced something clearly, firmly, and publicly.

Whispered

Spoke very softly using one's breath without one's vocal cords.

Muttered

Spoke in a low or barely audible voice, especially in dissatisfaction.

Murmured

Spoke in a low, soft, or indistinct voice.

Mumbled

Spoke in a quiet and indistinct way.

Breathed

Whispered something softly.

Intoned

Said or recited with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.

Slurred

Spoke indistinctly so that sounds run into one another.

Drawled

Spoke in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.

Hissed

Whispered something in a urgent or angry way.

Croaked

Spoke with a deep, hoarse voice.

Interjected

Said something abruptly, especially as an interruption.

Blurted

Said something suddenly and without careful consideration.

Sputtered

Spoke in a series of explosive sounds, often when angry or surprised.

Spluttered

Spoke in a rapid, confused, and explosive manner, often when excited or angry.

Snapped

Said something suddenly and sharply, often in anger.

Gasped

Caught one's breath with an open mouth, from pain, surprise, or shock.

Marveled

Expressed great surprise, wonder, or admiration.

Gawked

Stared openly and stupidly while speaking.

Shouted

Spoke very loudly.

Exclaimed

Cried out suddenly, especially in surprise, anger, or emotion.

Shrieked

Uttered a high-pitched piercing sound or words, especially from terror, pain, or excitement.

Screeched

Uttered a loud, harsh, piercing cry.

Screamed

Gave a long, loud, piercing cry from extreme emotion.

Yelped

Uttered a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm.

Howled

Emitted a long, loud, doleful cry or sound.

Roared

Made a full, deep, prolonged cry or sound, often from anger or excitement.

Boomed

Spoke in a loud, deep, resonant voice.

Bellowed

Emitted a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger.

Thundered

Spoke loudly, powerfully, and angrily.

Yelled

Shouted loudly, typically to urge someone on or to attract attention.

Wailed

Uttered a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.