Choose your words wisely

Sometime ago I came across a website (www.deannacarlye.com/articles/verb.html) that lists verbs to use in place of common verbs. Sadly, that link no longer works; but when I find something interesting on the internet I print it for my files, which is really just a stack of interesting stuff. The list below contains 166 words that could be used instead of the word said. This is a must list of words for new and experienced writers. As I reviewed the list a curious thought came to me. Many of them were opposites of other replacement words.


Muttered is balanced by enunciated. Whispered is contrasted with yelled. Questioned is countered by pontificated. Asked is answered with cited. Reading the list is enlightening without trying to create a single point vs. counterpoint arrangement. Read the list for meaning and insights. Use the list and a dictionary to jump start a writing effort.

Most of the verbs I knew and used many times, many I knew but didn’t often use. A few were unfamiliar that made me open a dictionary to get a precise meaning.

Avouched: to make frank acknowledgement or affirmation, to admit; confess. Maundered: to talk in a rambling, foolish or meaningless way. Prated: to talk excessively. Prattle: to talk in a simple minded way; chatter; babble.

I must declare that I have at times talked idiotically to overload without even trying. Not knowing a word doesn’t exclude the fact that they could embody a segment of your psyche. Perhaps I should read the list for meaning of other replacement verbs to gain more insights into human nature; replacements verbs abound for walked, jumped, took, touched, walked, pushed, had, reacted, hit, sat, stood, smelled and turned to name to few. Powerful writing is the use of the most powerful word needed to express meaning and emotion without sounding artificial.

Choose your words wisely.

Go to the list at see more.

uttered


mumbled

drawled

parroted

echoed

said half-aloud

snarled

blurted

moaned

muttered

murmured

cooed

whispered

crooned

hollered

shrilled

sassed

prompted

questioned

demanded

queried

replied

suggested

responded

sang out

scoffed

screamed

yelled

yelped

shouted

inquired

chirped

squealed

squeaked

asked herself

asked

assured

commanded

cried out

exclaimed

advised

announced

growled

stuttered

stammered

instructed

told

jeered

scolded

lamented

mocked

objected

questioned

roared

speculated

snapped

spat

stated

whined

jabbered

prated

prattled

gibbered

cackled

gabbled

sputtered

blathered

rambled on

rattled on

maundered

digressed

sermonized

preached

came out with

declaimed

pontificated

harangued

ranted

rhapsodized

gushed

spouted

let slip

enlightened him

pointed out

chatted

revealed

boasted

crowed

vaunted

bragged

disparaged

belittled

notified

addressed

blabbed

nattered

bantered

yakked

whispered

wondered aloud

rejoined

retorted

replied

recited

repeated

remarked

came out with

conveyed

declared

summoned

imparted

mentioned

added

put before

revealed

let out

divulged

disclosed

made known

vented

aired

breathed

betrayed

recited

predicted

advanced

averred

avowed

avouched

assumed

imagined

professed

claimed

purported

insinuated

cited

named

offered

proposed

pleaded

imputed

implied

asserted

expressed

pledged

ascribed

affirmed

professed

admitted


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