Synonyms for said, from http://www.thecaveonline.com/

Synonyms for "Said"

GENERAL

SYNONYM	MEANING
added	to embellish or enhance an argument
continued	to further an earlier point
stated	to say, usually confined to quotes or paraphrases from documents, or to official statements
announced	to declare publicly or formally
asserted	to state positively, with great confidence but no objective proof
commented	to make a remark to explain, interpret, or criticize
declared	to make known clearly and openly
observed	to mention casually
remarked	to make a brief, casual statement of opinion
reported	to give an account of; to carry message; to give a formal statement

The following verbs should be limited to the specific circumstances described by the definitions:

ACKNOWLEDGING OR REVEALING

SYNONYM	MEANING
acknowledged	implies reluctant disclosure of something that might have been a secret
admitted	implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede, and usually refers to facts rather than their implication
affirmed	implies deep conviction and unlikelihood of contradiction
alleged	to assert or declare, especially without proof
avowed	implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility
conceded	similar to acknowledge and admit
confessed	may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt
disclosed	to reveal something previously concealed
divulged	to reveal something that should have remained secret or private, which may imply a breach of confidence
revealed	to make something known that had been secret or hidden

INQUISITIVE

SYNONYM	MEANING
begged	to ask in a humble or earnest manner
demanded	to ask for boldly or urgently
implored	to ask with great fervor, implying desperation or great distress
insisted	to demand strongly, to declare firmly
pleaded	to answer a legal charge, to offer as an excuse or defense, to implore or beg

EXPLANATORY

SYNONYM	MEANING
answered	to respond to a question
explained	to make an explanation
rejoined	to answer an objection
replied	to answer a question or comment
responded	to reply to a question or comment
retorted	to reply to a charge or criticism in a sharp, witty way
returned	to reply to a charge or criticism in a sharp, witty way; to answer an objection

ARGUMENTATIVE

SYNONYM	MEANING
contended	to argue or dispute
countered	to dispute
emphasized	to stress
exclaimed	to speak suddenly or vehemently
maintained	to assert, to support by argument, to affirm
proclaimed	to announce officially
proposed	to set forth a design or plan

SUGGESTIVE

SYNONYM	MEANING
hinted	implies slight or remote suggestion
implied	similar to suggest, but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed
insinuated	refers to conveying a usually unpleasant idea in a sly, underhanded manner
intimated	stresses delicacy of suggestion
suggested	to propose as a possibility, to convey indirectly by putting an idea into the mind by association

TONE

The following words all describe manners of speaking or tones of voice and should be used when necessary and appropriate.

SYNONYM	MEANING
barked	to speak or shout sharply
bellowed	to roar, to cry out loudly in anger or fear
cackled	to laugh cynically or sneer; implies sinister intent
cried	to call for help, to shout, to sob, to weep
croaked	to make a sound like a frog or raven, to talk dismally
declaimed	to speak in a pompous way or deliver a tirade
drawled	to speak in a way that prolongs the vowels
joked	to make a joke
mumbled	to utter inarticulate or almost inaudible sounds
murmured	to speak in a low, indistinct voice
muttered	to speak angry or discontented words in a low, indistinct voice
roared	to utter a loud, deep sound
scolded	to find fault with angrily
shouted	to make a loud cry or call
shrieked	to make a loud, piercing cry or sound
wailed	to express grief or pain through long, loud cries
whispered	to speak softly, especially to avoid being overheard