SAYS Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

says 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of say

as in tells

to express (a thought or emotion) in words why don't you just say what's on your mind?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in expresses

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

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as in recites

to give from memory say your prayers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reads

as in assumes

to take as true or as a fact without actual proof let's say, for the sake of argument, that this is true

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says

2 of 2

noun

plural of say

as in shares

the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion even if they decide otherwise, at least I had my say

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of says

Verb

That the first foreign policy message after the victory went to Moscow, and through a Russian state outlet, says a good deal about where the new government’s instincts lie. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026 Because food can be scarce there and people fear theft, individuals will store rice in their dirt-floor homes, Wagner says, allowing close contact with the rats that infest the island. — Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026 Nothing says luxury wellness quite like taking a HIIT circuit class in an industrial art studio rented by the hour for a corporate team-building retreat. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026 Catering to VICs and celebrities, Lepire says that her clients are often planning for rarefied parties, and come to Timeless Vixen to source vintage couture pieces that will elevate their look. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 The Palestinian Ministry of Health says Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,500 people. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 This year’s lineup is marked by films about historical events, wars among them, Ichiyama says. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026 Much of the harm has come from Israel’s expansion deeper into Gaza during the ceasefire period, the report says. — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Martin Zummach, an attorney who represents the officer who fired the shot that killed Kohen, says the attorney general's findings cleared his client of criminal wrongdoing. — Sophie Bates, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

The idea, Was says, was to focus on Weir’s songs and the characters in them rather than on the jammy side of the Dead. — David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026 It was given a 60 percent chance of cyclone formation through seven says—a 10- percentage-point increase over the previous day. — Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 But today, the 42-year-old says, time would be better spent studying a more niche topic intertwined with AI, like AI for biology—or maybe not a degree at all. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for says

Verb

The fugitive tells his underwater buddies what the humans have been doing to their kind.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
An organization chart tells you where authority is supposed to sit.

— Kelvin Cheema, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of tells

Verb

Lucas recites his spooky little tale in front of a binaural mic shaped like a human head, whose features resemble more than a little the Art Deco lines of an Oscar statuette.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
After solving the mystery of his predecessor Hal Jordan’s (Kyle Chandler) death, Stewart claims Jordan’s power ring as his own, recites his oath and jets off toward his next adventure.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of recites

Verb

In our example of the pond, simply comparing the number of possibilities assumes that each stone emits a wave independently.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
For any executive whose roadmap assumes compute capacity coming online on schedule, that is now a line item.

— Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of assumes

Noun

Investors can buy and sell shares of the fund on the stock exchange, rather than having to secure a direct stake in those businesses.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Rollins — The pest control company saw shares fall more than 5% after third-quarter results missed the Street's estimates.

— Darla Mercado, CFP®,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shares

Verb

Rao wrote and co-produced the comedy, and nobody in it utters a line.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Over the course of Decay, Godflesh‘s 10th and supposedly penultimate album, frontman Justin Broadrick utters less than 150 words total in just 42 minutes.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of utters

Verb

The latest Channel 12 opinion poll puts Eisenkot first with 23 seats, ahead of the Likud with 21, though other pollsters differ.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
View gallery - 7 images This tiny house takes the look of a traditional mountain lodge and puts it on wheels.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of puts

Verb

Cancio also believes rising rents are to blame for the struggling businesses on Miracle Mile and the rest of the Gables commercial district.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
The 20-minute call, which Aris believes the military monitored, offered a rare glimpse of how the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate is being held.

— Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026