General alternatives:
* Spoke: More formal than "said."
* Stated: Implies a formal or deliberate statement.
* Declared: Similar to "stated," but with a stronger emphasis on the importance of the statement.
* Remarked: Implies a casual or brief comment.
* Uttered: Implies a spoken word or phrase, often with a negative connotation.
More specific alternatives:
* Whispered: Spoken quietly.
* Shouted: Spoken loudly.
* Mumbled: Spoken unclearly or softly.
* Explained: Spoken with the intention of clarifying something.
* Asked: Spoken with the intention of receiving information.
Alternatives for writing:
* He/She/They replied: When someone is responding to something.
* He/She/They continued: When someone is continuing a previous thought.
* He/She/They added: When someone is adding to a previous statement.
The best choice depends on the context of your sentence and the specific tone you want to convey.