I'm looking for a single word that means talking with a raised voice, but still a few decibels short of shouting. Imagine for example the beginning of an argument:
"I sold our cow for some beans."
"You did what?" ____ed Jack's mother.
"Magic beans."
"You imbecile!" she shouted.
You get the idea. Say and tell seem a bit too weak, whereas shout, scream, cry and the like are a bit too loud.
Perhaps another way to describe it is the sort of voice you use when you'd like to shout, but you're not sure if it's socially appropriate for you to do so (for the moment).
I've considered "call out" but it doesn't quite seem like it fits.
Best Answer
"Exclaim"
"You did what?!" exclaimed Jack's Mother.
Note also the addition of the exclamation mark.