Took exception means to disagree or feel offended by something. There are numerous synonyms for this phrase, including objected, disputed, challenged, protested, opposed, resisted, argued, confronted, criticized, complained, and found fault with. These synonyms can be used interchangeably depending on the context and the level of intensity of the objection or offense. For instance, objected and disputed are less intense than challenged and opposed, while criticized and found fault with are slightly different as they suggest a more critical tone. Regardless of the chosen synonym, it helps in expressing one's disagreement with a particular situation or statement in a more precise and accurate manner.