pointed out

6 synonyms for pointed out, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — Past tense of point out: to draw someone's attention to a fact, especially one they have missed or would rather not face.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

noted observed

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

remarked highlighted

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

indicated showed

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

Past tense of point out: to draw someone's attention to a fact, especially one they have missed or would rather not face.

“She pointed out that the figures did not add up.”

noted observed remarked indicated highlighted

2. verb

Past tense of point out in the literal sense: to show someone where something is, often by pointing at it.

“The guide pointed out the cathedral on the far side of the square.”

showed indicated

How to use pointed out

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pointed out that rightly pointed out as she pointed out pointed out the flaw

Neutral and very common in reported speech and journalism. "Pointed out" quietly implies the statement is true, unlike "claimed" or "argued".

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between "pointed out" and "said"?

"Said" is neutral reporting. "Pointed out" suggests the speaker was drawing attention to something factual that others had overlooked, so it subtly implies the statement is accurate. Journalists avoid it when the claim is disputed.

Is it "pointed out that" or "pointed out the fact that"?

"Pointed out that" is cleaner and preferred. "The fact that" adds nothing and is usually cut in edited writing.

People also searched

noted observed highlighted remarked

Nearby words

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