Synonyms of say

say 1 of 3

verb

ˈsā 

1

as in to tell

to express (a thought or emotion) in words

why don't you just say what's on your mind?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tell
• talk
• utter
• speak
• discuss
• share
• state
• give
• verbalize
• articulate
• announce
• put
• vocalize
• bring out
• enunciate
• shout
• pass
• put into words
• look
• publish
• post
• proclaim
• voice
• affirm
• declare
• whisper
• blurt
• sound
• assert
• advertise
• word
• phrase
• ventilate
• allege
• publicize
• get off
• comment
• mouth
• promulgate
• aver
• air
• avow
• vent
• breathe
• remark
• gasp
• blabber
• murmur
• formulate
• broadcast
• lip
• chirp
• shoot
• blaze
• spout
• avouch
• bolt
• couch
• clothe
• rip (out)
• snarl
• purr
• drawl
• splutter
• formulize
• pipe up (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppress
• stifle

2

as in to express

to convey in appropriate or telling terms

I'm not quite sure how to say this, but that's the worst essay I've ever read

Synonyms & Similar Words

• express
• phrase
• put
• word
• articulate
• state
• describe
• formulate
• tell
• suggest
• couch
• clothe
• imply
• summarize
• translate
• speak
• hint
• disclose
• paraphrase
• restate
• craft
• rephrase
• communicate
• talk
• utter
• insinuate
• verbalize
• intimate
• reword
• frame
• render
• vocalize
• write up

3

as in to recite

to give from memory

say your prayers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• recite
• memorize
• repeat
• speak
• learn
• study
• reel off
• mouth
• con
• declaim
• orate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• read

4

as in to assume

to take as true or as a fact without actual proof

let's say, for the sake of argument, that this is true

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assume
• presume
• believe
• think
• suppose
• guess
• conclude
• hypothesize
• postulate
• figure
• accept
• presuppose
• insist
• imagine
• dream
• take for granted
• suspect
• premise
• speculate
• hypothecate
• infer
• claim
• surmise
• declare
• deduce
• swallow
• judge
• perceive
• credit
• reckon
• conjecture
• assert
• maintain
• contend
• gather
• affirm
• conceive
• theorize
• suspicion
• take
• fancy
• allege
• profess
• aver
• avow
• preconceive
• avouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doubt
• question
• wonder (about)
• challenge
• disagree (with)
• deny
• dispute
• disbelieve
• discredit
• discount
• reject
• distrust
• controvert
• disclaim
• repudiate
• disavow
• refute
• mistrust
• disprove
• rebut
• disown
• belie
• confute

say

2 of 3

adverb

as in about

close to but not exactly

a person consumes, say, 2000 calories a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• about
• approximately
• roughly
• like
• around
• some
• much
• after a fashion
• plus or minus
• generally
• somewhere about
• nearly
• more or less
• near
• somewhere around
• loosely
• practically
• virtually
• nominally
• well-nigh
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• precisely
• exactly
• even
• just
• sharp
• due
• squarely
• smack-dab

say

3 of 3

noun

as in share

the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion

even if they decide otherwise, at least I had my say

Synonyms & Similar Words

• share
• voice
• vote
• opinion
• role
• say-so
• part
• belief
• sentiment
• franchise
• conviction
• suffrage
• view
• ballot
• judgment
• enfranchisement

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of say

Verb

Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank, said Trump would be repeating the same policy mistake as his predecessor, Democratic former President Joe Biden. — Bill Barrow, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Hong Kong and central Chinese authorities say the laws were necessary to restore stability in the city after months of anti-government protests in 2019 that sometimes turned violent. — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026

Adverb

The result has been a group of ridiculously talented dancers with a never-say-quit attitude and a lot of stuff to say — and doing it elegantly. — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Noun

The modern athlete wants a larger say in how they’re perceived, how their intellectual property is used and how they’re compensated. — Justin Birnbaum, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

For three months, everybody else has had their say about what Quinn Hughes wants. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing say

• needless to say
• say uncle