Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Below is a quick reference list of synonyms for “said” arranged by GRADE LEVEL
(all grade 2 words grouped together, all grade 3 words grouped together and so on).
Consult this list when writing at SPECIFIC age levels.
Grade levels are determined by:
 when is the word *introduced* to the child
 developmental age the average reader can *process* the word from general
applications into understanding the word’s meaning within the story context
Thus, if you’re writing for 7-9 year olds, you can use many words from Grade 2 -3 (in
addition to Grade K-1). You can also use a few words from Grade 4 that may be slightly
above a child’s level.
Incorporating words in place of “said” helps stretch and expand the reader’s vocabulary.
But do keep in mind… using higher level words MUST BE for a literary purpose!
For instance, higher level terms take readers *deeper* into a character’s personality, the
situation in which the character is positioned, emotions the character is experiencing,
and so on. Words like admired, assumed, detailed, excused, fretted REVEAL
personality, ways in which characters *operate* in their head and emotions, etc.
Note: Manuscripts that incorporate *big words* simply to show the author knows *big
words* will result in the manuscript being returned for revisions.
Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Kindergarten
Grade 1
added
answered
asked
began
called
cried
begged
nodded
Grade 2
allowed
blasted
charged
decided
directed
doubted
explained
fibbed
frowned
fussed
grinned
guessed
gulped
hinted
hissed
hummed
invited
jingled
joked
juggled
kissed
laughed
lied
promised
shouted
Synonyms for Said by Grade Level.Doc
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Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Grade 3
accepted
appealed
bossed
cheered
clucked
considered
described
fought back
greeted
hiccupped
indicated
interrupted
misapplied
nagged
panted
prayed
quacked
reminded
screamed
smiled
sobbed
squealed
talked
told
voiced
winked
yawned
Synonyms for Said by Grade Level.Doc
advised
approached
bragged
chose
comforted
continued
exclaimed
gave in
groaned
hollered
informed
jested
misjudged
observed
paused
preferred
questioned
replied
screeched
sniffed
spoke
started
tattled
trembled
wept
wondered
yelled
agreed
argued
chatted
chuckled
commanded
cooed
excused
giggled
growled
howled
inquired
judged
mislabeled
oozed
peeped
pretended
refused
requested
shivered
snored
squawked
suggested
taught
trusted
whispered
worried
zoomed
announced
barked
chattered
claimed
concluded
corrected
finished
granted
heckled
illustrated
instructed
labeled
misled
ordered
picked
purred
remembered
roared
sighed
snorted
squeaked
supposed
teased
uncovered
whistled
yapped
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Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Grade 4
accused
analyzed
assured
bleated
breathed
chirped
complained
contributed
croaked
educated
fenced
gasped
hailed
hesitated
impersonated
interfered
justified
maintained
mocked
named
offered
pestered
preached
prompted
pumped
reacted
rejoiced
repeated
returned
shrieked
sniffled
threatened
volunteered
warbled
whined
addressed
applauded
bargained
blushed
cackled
choked
condemned
countered
cursed
entertained
flattered
gloried
hammered out
hoaxed
improvised
interpreted
lauded
marveled
mumbled
noted
pardoned
pleaded
pressed
pronounced
quaked
reasoned
rejoined
reported
reviewed
shrugged
stated
thundered
vomited
warned
yelped
Synonyms for Said by Grade Level.Doc
admitted
applied
bawled
boasted
celebrated
clipped
consented
cracked
disavowed
falsified
flourished
gossiped
harped on
huffed
inserted
jabbered
lectured
misrepresented
murmured
notified
parroted
pledged
proceeded
protested
quarreled
rebuked
related
required
saluted
slurred
stressed
tutored
vowed
wheezed
advanced
approved
bellowed
boomed
challenged
coached
consulted
criticized
echoed
faltered
forecast
grumbled
heralded
imitated
insisted
jeered
limited
misunderstood
muttered
objected
persisted
praised
proclaimed
puffed
quizzed
recalled
remarked
responded
selected
snapped
swore
urged
wailed
whimpered
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Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Grade 5
acclaimed
advertised
assumed
blubbered
broke the news
chimed in
communicated
consoled
debated
demanded
disclosed
emphasized
fabled
garbled
guaranteed
imparted
insinuated
interrogated
lamented
let drop
made known
misinformed
moaned
overrated
petitioned
probed
proposed
rallied
rebutted
relented
rooted for
scolded
shuffled
soothed
stalled
summarized
termed
touched on
unraveled
wagered
zeroed in
accounted
alleged
beckoned
blurted
brought word
clarified
complimented
contended
deceived
denied
discussed
endorsed
fretted
glossed over
gurgled
implied
insulted
intimated
lay bare
let fall
meant
misinterpreted
modified
overstated
piped up
professed
pursued
rambled on
recited
resisted
ruled
sent word
smirked
specified
stammered
surrendered
thought aloud
translated
uttered
wavered
Synonyms for Said by Grade Level.Doc
acknowledged
amended
berated
broadcast
cautioned
cleared up
compromised
coughed
declared
detailed
drove at
estimated
gabbled
griped
gushed
implored
interceded
iterated
left word
let slip
mentioned
misquoted
narrowed down
owned up to
pointed out
promoted
put forth
rapped out
reckoned
resolved
rumored
set forth
snarled
spelled out
strained
suspected
toasted
underestimated
vented
yearned
admired
assessed
beseeched
broke in
chanted
commented
confessed
counseled
decoded
determined
dwelled on
expanded
gagged
grunted
hedged
inferred
interjected
jibed
legitimated
lisped
miscalculated
misstated
overestimated
persuaded
predicted
prophesied
quoted
raved
recommended
resumed
sang out
shed light
sniveled
spouted
stuttered
taunted
took an oath
unfolded
vouched
yielded
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Synonyms for “Said” by Grade Level
Grade 6
admonished
apprehended
authorized
bickered
censured
commenced
concurred
conversed
decried
deliberated
designated
disputed
editorialized
foretold
maneuvered
negated
presumed
rationalized
reflected
renounced
reproved
revealed
ridiculed
sermonized
sneered
speculated
theorized
undervalued
advocated
apprised
avowed
bluffed
certified
commended
condescended
deciphered
deduced
denounced
dictated
dissented
exaggerated
gauged
mimicked
negotiated
prodded
reassured
refuted
rephrased
repudiated
revised
scoffed
signified
snickered
spluttered
underrated
warranted
Synonyms for Said by Grade Level.Doc
affirmed
articulated
babbled
bristled
chronicled
complied
confided
declined
defined
depicted
disciplined
distorted
expressed
gloated
moralized
opted
quantified
recanted
reiterated
reprimanded
retorted
revoked
scorned
simplified
sparred
sputtered
underscored
wrangled
alluded
asserted
bantered
cajoled
clamored
conceded
contradicted
decreed
degraded
deposed
disclaimed
edified
flirted
haggled
narrated
persevered
ranted
recounted
rendered
reproached
retracted
rhymed
scowled
smoldered
spat
summoned
understated
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