This post? This post drives me nuts. They're hiding the most important part in the first lines. People are not going to retain that, they're going to just glom onto the lists of "alternative" words and use them, which is a big fat NO.
Much clearer to just leave it at
USE SAID OR DON'T USE SPEAKER TAGS. Otherwise your writing sounds weak and hackneyed. Using these kinds of dialog tags that OP is suggesting makes things stilted and confusing. Use said, and then explain the way they said it.
The anger rolling off his being in waves was almost palpable. "It was all for nothing??"
"Why yes, yes I do like to eat 'the good stuff'" she said, rolling her eyes with annoyance.
"Nobody has ever looked at me that way before." she said, voice all awe and fondness
"I am N- NOT scared!" but the stutter belied his fear.
I will say, personally, I am ok with "replied" instead of "said", if the dialog is indeed a reply.
"Well, if that's what you want to do..." she replied, smugly.
"These are all just off the top of my head as I write this post, so they're not great, but they get the point across, I think."
She said.
