First Draft

Charles Finch, in his round up of the summer thrillers in the New York Times Book Review. 

Said Synonyms- Reporting

Added: to enhance an argument

Advised: to warn, to offer help

Announced: to declare formally and or publicly

Asserted: to state positively but having no proof

Called: to capture attention by increased volume

Commented: to explain, interpret, or criticize - to make a remark

Complained: to express dislike or disagreement

Congratulated: to give wishes; to acknowledge an action or deed

Continued: to further or add to an earlier point

Declared: to make known clearly and openly

Informed: to give information, to make known; declare

Lied: to not speak truthfully

Observed: to mention casually

Offered: to suggest; to state

Mentioned: to state briefly; to bring up in conversation

Protested: to formally or openly disagree

Quoted: to repeat words of others; to cite a source

Recalled: to remember or bring up

Related: to make connection; to say allegorically

Remarked: to make a brief, casual statement of an opinion

Remembered: to recall

Reminded: to remember; to mention so as not to forget

Repeated: to say again; to restate

Replied: to answer; to say in response

Reported: to give a formal statement; to give an account of

Reassured: to give additional comfort, support, or evidence

Revealed: to make known; to publish

Stated: to say or paraphrase from official documents

Taunted: to cruelly tease in a mocking or insulting manner

Teased: to annoy or pester; vex

Tempted:  to cause to consider (usually) something bad

Said Synonyms- Explaining

Addressed: to speak directly to sme, respond or answer

Answered: to respond to a question

Asserted: to add or offer additional information

Assured: to soothe, comfort, calm

Broke In: to interrupt, supplying additional information

Cautioned: to warn or advise; strongly suggest

Claimed: to assert or maintain; to state as fact

Concluded: to finish or draw to a close; to understand

Confided: to let in on a secret; to disclose

Described: to give additional information

Explained: to make or offer an explanation

Finished: to conclude or complete

Quipped: to say ironically or unemotionally

Implied: to suggest, hint, or say without saying

Noted: to make mention; to acknowledge

Promised: to give word or make a vow

Puzzled: to say with doubt or ambiguity

Reckoned: to add or submit; to figure or believe

Rejoined: to answer an objection

Replied: to answer a question or comment

Responded: to reply or answer a question or comment

Retorted: to reply to criticism in a sharp, witty way

Returned: to answer an objection; to reply to a criticism or charge

Speculated: to guess using information available

Surmised: to conclude or deduce

Said Synonyms- Arguing

Accused: to charge, slander

Agreed: to concur, to be in harmony

Argued: defend position, disagree or dispute

Chided: to scold mildly; to goad into action

Commanded: lead; overwhelm opposition

Contended: to argue, dispute, disagree

Countered: to dispute, question

Convinced: persuaded; remove all doubt, win over

Disagreed: to be at odds; to not agree

Emphasized: to stress

Exclaimed: to speak suddenly, loudly with surprise

Interjected: to add or assert; to interrupt

Interrupted: to cut off or disrupt; to interject out of turn

Maintained: to assert, to support by argument, to affirm

Objected: to disagree; be in oppostion to

Pleaded: to implore or beg; to speak desperately

Proclaimed: to announce officially; support publicly

Proposed: to set forth a design or plan

Reasoned: to state calmly and with logic

Sassed: to speak back to authority figure; rebel

Screamed: to use high pitch loud voice

Threatened: to say in menacing manner

Warned: to make aware in advance of harm, danger, or evil

Yelled: to shout or use loud voice; scream

Said Synonyms- Suggesting

Chimed In: to add (usually) unwanted advice

Coaxed: to convince against someone’s will; change mind

Dared: challenge, question

Hinted: implies suggestion

Implied: similar to suggest - indicates a definite idea

Insinuated: to convey sth unpleasant in a sly, sneaky way

Intimidated: to say without saying, stresses delicacy of situation

Pondered: to consider; to weigh all options

Suggested: to propose as a possibility, to imply

Urged: To entreat earnestly and often repeatedly; exhort

Said Synonyms- Questioning

Asked: to question or solicit

Begged: to ask in a humble manner earnestly

Blurted: to interrupt or interject, to ask all together

Bugged: to ask repetitively; difficult or unwanted questions

Demanded: to ask for urgently and boldly

Guessed: to infer; to ask without evidence

Hypothesized: to guess, infer

Implored: to ask with fervor, implying desperation or distress

Inquired: to ask, seek information

Insisted: to demand strongly, to declare firmly

Pleaded: to answer a legal charge, to lovingly implore

Questioned: to ask, doubt, or dispute

Requested: to ask (sometimes) formally

Wondered: to say with puzzlement or doubt

Worried: to cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled

Said Synonyms- Acknowledging

Acknowledge: reluctant disclosure of something perhaps a secret

Admitted: reluctance to disclose or concede facts

Affirmed: implies deep conviction, little chance of contradiction

Alleged: to assert or declare, especially without proof

Approved: to consent or agree

Avowed: boldly declaring, often in the face of opposition

Boasted: to take pride in, brag or overstate

Bragged: to boast or overstate; be prideful

Conceded: similar to acknowledge and admit  

Confessed: an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt

Corrected: to instruct more correctly; remove misconception

Denied: not accepted; unused, refused

Disclosed: to reveal something previously concealed

Divulged: to reveal sth that should have remained secret

Fretted: to needlessly worry about small details

Greeted: to acknowledge presence; salute, salutation

Imitated: to copy, mimic or simulate

Jested: to make fun of, tease

Marveled: to speak with wonderment or amazement

Nodded: to move head up and down in agreement

Praised: to speak of with honor; to speak highly of someone

Revealed: to make known that which had been secret or hidden

Uttered: to articulate; pronounce or speak

Volunteered: to give or offer to give voluntarily

Said Synonyms- Sounds & Misc

Babbled: to speak incoherently; gibberish, like baby talk

Bubbled: to speak lively and expressively; with joy

Chatted: to speak informally as to a friend

Chortled: to chuckle gleefully; short laugh of joy

Chorused: to speak simultaneously, together

Chuckled: short, soft laugh; usually to one’s self

Coughed: short, strong expulsion of air from lungs

Decided: finished, set

Echoed: repeated sound

Gasped: heavy breath after scare or physical exertion

Giggled: short, high-pitched laugh from fear or nervousness

Growled: rough, threatening manner

Gulped: to speak taking in large amounts of air as if drinking

Gurgled: to speak with fluid in the throat

Hissed: to speak in evil threatening manner

Hollered: to shout usually to someone at a distance

Lisped: to speak unclearly substituting sounds especially ‘th’

Panted: to speak as if out of breath

Piped:to speak suddenly and loudly

Quavered: to speak emotionally with faltering voice

Shrilled: high pitched shriek

Sighed: to speak with difficulty as if bored

Snickered: to say derisively with a laugh

Sniffed: to say as if about to cry

Snorted: to say with contempt and a short burst of breath

Sobbed: to cry uncontrollably

Sputtered: to speak with difficulty perhaps from impediment

Stammered: repeating words and sounds while missing others

Stuttered: to repeat certain sounds multiple times

Vowed: to promise solemnly; pledge

Wept: to cry softly, quietly

Whimpered: to cry or sob with soft intermittent sounds; whine

Whine: to complain or protest in a childish fashion

Here’s a new infographic on Story Arcs. Sorry for the low resolution, but hopefully you can make everything out okay.