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

Gordon Noble, the paper’s senior author and an archeologist at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, says that the evidence of craftworking is particularly exciting. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026

Audiences have grown far more discerning, Nakajima says, with a vast number of works now out in the world, and the range of what animators can express has widened considerably in 40 years. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 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 governor said the state wants local communities to have a say in where data centers go and wants to keep the facilities from driving up power bills. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

For example, a toddler could be asked to choose between two shirts while a school-age child might be given greater say in homework time after school. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 24 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing say

• needless to say
• say uncle