This is a list of words I've compiled to use in the place of "said". I've catagorized them to a degree, but probably not as much as I could. The list of most common are the ones I use the most. They may not match yours. Hopefully this will help you. :) If you should have others that aren't on this list, feel free to let me know in the comments and I'll add them.
Most common
added, asked, assured, began, claimed, commented, confessed, confided, continued, explained, finished, guessed, informed, inquired, insisted, mentioned, mumbled, observed, pointed out, promised, reassured, remarked, repeated, replied, responded
Generic
admitted, advised, answered, articulated, assumed, called, cautioned, chatted, cited, consulted, conveyed, debated, decided, described, directed, disclosed, divulged, echoed, elaborated, emitted, estimated, exposed, expressed, forced, foretold, gasped, gawped, held, hesitated, hinted, implied, indicated, instructed, maintained, mimicked, mouthed, narrated, noted, notified, obeyed, offered, panted, petitioned, predicted, prescribed, prodded, professed, prompted, proposed, purported, purred, pushed, quivered, quoted, rambled, rationalized, reasoned, reckoned, recounted, reflected, related, relished, remonstrated, reported, restated, resumed, returned, revealed, ruled, shrugged, shuddered, slurred, smiled, speculated, spoke, started, stated, stressed, suggested, swooned, testified, thought, told, touted, trailed, twitted, twittered, understood, urged, uttered, verified, voiced, voted, wondered, yawned, yelped
Agree
accepted, acknowledged, admitted, affirmed, agreed, concurred
Disagree
contended, denied, disputed, argued, corrected, countered, disagreed, retorted
Interrupt
cut in, cut off, interjected
Positive
applauded, approved, beamed, complimented, cooed, empathized, emphasized, encouraged, enlightened, illuminated, invited, lilted, praised, sympathized
Negative
accused, alleged, bellyached, berated, boasted, bragged, chided, choked, complained, criticized, cursed, disrupted, faltered, feared, fretted, frowned, fumed, fussed, gloated, glowered, gossiped, grated, grieved, griped, groaned, growled, grumbled, grunted, hissed, interrogated, interrupted, jabbed, jibed, judged, lamented, lectured, leered, lied, moaned, mocked, mourned, nagged, nitpicked, objected, preached, protested, scoffed, scolded, scowled, seethed, snapped, snarled, sneered, sniffled, sniped, sniveled, snorted, sobbed, spat, sputtered, stammered, struggled, stumbled, stuttered, swore, taunted, teased, threatened, warned
Asking
queried, questioned, requested
Strong positive
announced, asserted, cheered, chorused, commanded, crowed, declared, dictated, exclaimed, howled, persisted, persuaded, proclaimed, pronounced, rejoiced, sang, sang out, vocalized, vowed, whooped, yelled
Strong negative
barked, bellowed, bossed, chastised, demanded, hollered, ordered, raged, ranted, roared, screamed, screeched, shouted, shrieked, stormed, thundered, vented
Quiet
breathed, comforted, consoled, dreamed, murmured, muttered, whispered, yawned, sighed
Musical
chanted, chimed in, chirped, crooned, droned, harmonized, sang, sung
Humor
chortled, chuckled, giggled, grinned, guffawed, joked, laughed, smirked, snickered
Twaddle
babbled, blubbered, blurted, clucked, croaked, drawled, exaggerated, gurgled, jabbered, quipped
Angsty
agonized, appealed, bargained, bawled, beckoned, begged, beseeched, cried, cried out, entreated, implored, pleaded, pouted, prayed, quaked, trembled, wailed, wept, whimpered, whined
