The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (7 page)

"Keep silent, Susan," Mrs. Connors lisped
reproachfully
.

beguilingly; believably; cagily; calculatingly; clandestinely; coaxingly; confidentially; conflictedly; connivingly; conspiratorially; contrivedly; controlledly; convincingly; covertly; cunningly; deceitfully; deceptively; denyingly; deviously; dishonestly; disingenuously; distrustfully; distrustingly; dubiously; evasively; facetiously; fallaciously; falsely; farcically; feignedly; fibbingly; fraudulently; furtively; guilefully; guiltily; imitatively; incongrously; manipulatively; mischievously; misleadingly; mistrustfully; mistrustingly; opportunistically; ostensibly; paradoxically; perfidiously; persuasively; pliantly; predatorily; ruthlessly; sarcastically; satirically; schemingly; secretively; shiftily; shiftingly; shrewdly; sinfully; sinisterly; sketchily; sleekly; slickly; slyly; smoothly; sneakily; stealthily; straightfacedly; subversively; surreptitiously; suspectingly; suspiciously; tactically; traitorously; treacherously; treasonably; treasonously; trickily; twistedly; twitchily; twitchingly; underhandedly; unevenly; unreliably; unscrupulously; untruthfully; unvirtuously; wilily; wolfishly.

"Depends," Dennis said
cagily
. "What are you offering?"

"I miss her a lot," he said
contrivedly
.

"Well, I'll see you later," she said
evasively
.

"Tell me, is Mr. Jones married?" Karen asked
schemingly
.

Shiftily
, he asked, "Do you mind if I use the bathroom?"

abhorrently; crudely; despicably; detestably; disgustedly; disgustingly; execrably; fetidly; filthily; foully; foulmouthedly; freakishly; fulsomely; grossly; grotesquely; gruesomely; immorally; indecently; indecorously; lewdly; licentiously; loathsomely; malodorously; nauseatingly; noxiously; obscenely; offensively; perversely; pervertedly; poisonously; putridly; rancidly; repulsedly; repulsively; revoltingly; salaciously; shamelessly; shockingly; sickeningly; slimily; sordidly; tastelessly; vilely; vulgarly; wickedly.

"She won't get a boyfriend if she doesn't put out," Wendy said
crudely
.

"We all like the taste of blood," Victor hissed
foully
.

"No one cares when you're dead," he said
indecently
.

"It is only one night," the old man whispered
perversely
.

Slimily
, the boy approached the girls and asked, "Which one of youse is gonna be my bitch?"

abashedly; apprehensively; awkwardly; bashfully; clammily; disconcertedly; disconcertingly; embarrassedly; floridly; flusteredly; humiliatedly; humiliatingly; mortifiedly; nervously; red-facedly; reddeningly; self-consciously; shamefacedly; shamefully; sheepishly; shrinkingly; shyly; skittishly; squeamishly; stammeringly; stunnedly; stutteringly; surprisedly; traumatically; tremulously; uncomfortably; unevenly; unnervedly.

"Sorry about that," Lilly said
abashedly
.

"I don't have anymore," he said
clammily
.

"No, you go first," she said
flusteredly
.

Self-consciously
, she whimpered, "Can I be excused?"

Trudy uttered
shyly
, "I forgot my lines."

accusatively; accusatorily; accusingly; adversarially; anxiously; argumentatively; avariciously; begrudgingly; bitchily; bitterly; brattily; broodingly; callously; callowly; cattily; childishly; competitively; confrontationally; connivingly; contemptibly; contemptuously; covetously; cunningly; cuttingly; demandingly; doubtingly; dramatically; embitteredly; emotionally; enviably; enviously; greedily; grudgingly; guardedly; immaturely; insinuatingly; jealously; manipulatively; melodramatically; mistrustfully; paranoidly; paternally; piercingly; possessively; protectively; pryingly; questioningly; resentfully; rottenly; saltily; scandalously; scornedly; scornfully; skeptically; solicitously; stingingly; sulkily; suspectingly; suspiciously; threateningly; unfaithfully; unromantically; untrustingly; vigilantly; warily; watchfully; woundedly; wrathfully; zealously.

"Where were you last night?" she asked
accusatively
.

"I hate the way he looks," he said
bitterly
.

Helen asked
covetously
, "Did your mother leave you anything in her will?"

Enviously
, Bridget whispered, "She isn't all that pretty anyway."

"Fine," he said
resentfully
, "leave me here to look after your stupid cats."

abidingly; accessibly; accommodatingly; acknowledgingly; affirmatively; affirmingly; agreeably; agreeingly; amenably; amicably; apologetically; appeasingly; assentingly; complaisantly; compliantly; complicitly; complimentarily; compromisingly; concedingly; confirmingly; congenially; consentingly; convivially; cooperatively; credulously; docilely; flatteringly; friendlily; generously; genially; good-naturedly; hospitably; idolizingly; ingratiatingly; invitingly; leisurely; loyally; obediently; obligedly; obligingly; obsequiously; panderingly; peaceably; peacefully; permissively; piously; placatingly; positively; profusely; propitiatingly; propitiously; receptively; reciprocatively; salutatorily; selflessly; servilely; sincerely; slavishly; smarmily; submissively; subserviently; suppliantly; supplicatingly; supportively; surrenderingly; sycophantically; trustingly; unimposingly; uxoriously; veneratively; vyingly; worshipfully; worshippingly; yieldingly.

"Can I get you anything else, Sir?" she asked
accommodatingly
.

"Yes, of course," he said
agreeingly
. "The man deserved it."

Docilely
, she replied, "Whatever you think is best."

"I will do anything you ask of me," he said
loyally
.

"I aim to please," she whispered
subserviently
.

abidingly; acceptingly; accessibly; accommodatingly; acknowledgingly; affably; amiably; banteringly; casually; charmingly; chattily; chivalrously; civilly; classily; complimentarily; considerately; conversationally; cordially; courteously; cultivatedly; culturedly; decently; deferentially; formally; friendlily; genially; genteelly; gentlemanly; good-naturedly; graciously; hospitably; mannerly; mild-manneredly; nicely; obeisantly; obligingly; pleasantly; pleasingly; polishedly; politely; primly; punctiliously; punctually; respectfully; smilingly; smoothly; sociably; thankfully; thoughtfully; unimposingly; warmly; welcomingly; well-manneredly; well-meaningly.

"Good morning," he said
affably
as she entered the room.

"Pleased to meet you," Robert said
charmingly
.

Alfred said
formally
, "The guests have arrived, Sir."

"May I use the restroom?" she asked
politely
.

"I'm glad you could make it," Daniel said
welcomingly
.

accomplishedly; ambitiously; approvingly; aristocratically; arrogantly; assertively; audaciously; auspiciously; austerely; authoritatively; autocratically; autonomously; boastfully; boastingly; boldly; bossily; braggingly; brilliantly; cavalierly; charismatically; charmingly; chauvinistically; cockily; commandingly; complacently; conceitedly; condescendingly; confidently; cultivatedly; culturedly; dapperly; debonairly; decorously; despotically; deviously; dictatorily; dignifiedly; distinguishedly; dominantly; domineeringly; draconially; dutifully; egotistically; elegantly; exaltedly; flamboyantly; foppishly; garishly; gaudily; gloatingly; grandiosely; grandly; haughtily; immodestly; impeccably; imperiously; indulgently; loftily; magisterially; magnanimously; magniloquently; masterfully; momentously; narcissistically; nobly; obnoxiously; oppressively; orderingly; ostentatiously; outspokenly; overconfidently; patriarchally; patriotically; peremptorily; piquantly; platitudinously; poisedly; polishedly; pompously; pontifically; portentously; pretentiously; pridefully; prissily; pristinely; prodigally; proudly; puissantly; refinedly; regally; righteously; royally; sanctimoniously; satisfiedly; savoringly; self-absorbedly; self-approvingly; self-assuredly; self-centeredly; self-confidently; self-importantly; self-interestedly; self-possessedly; self-righteously; self-satisfiedly; sententiously; showily; smugly; snobbily; snobbishly; snootily; sophisticatedly; stylishly; suavely; superciliously; superiorily; swaggeringly; triumphantly; tyrannically; unctuously; urbanely; vaingloriously; vainly; victoriously; wryly.

"Don't speak to me in that tone," she said
aristocratically
.

He
austerely
said: "We have no time for pointless pursuits."

"I demand a room at once," he said
domineeringly
.

Pompously
, Andrew broke in, "Well, what do you expect from a savage!"

"Care for a Chardonnay?" the gentleman asked
refinedly
.

abrasively; abruptly; abusively; affrontedly; antisocially; backhandedly; bad-manneredly; barbarically; barbarously; bluntly; boorishly; bossily; brusquely; brutishly; bullyingly; caddishly; cantankerously; carelessly; chauvinistically; classlessly; coarsely; complainingly; contumeliously; crassly; crudely; curtly; defamatorily; demandingly; deplorably; derogatively; discordantly; discourteously; disobligingly; disrespectfully; disruptively; distastefully; flagrantly; flippantly; gracelessly; impertinently; impolitely; imprudently; impudently; impulsively; inappropriately; inconsiderately; indecently; indecorously; indelicately; indignantly; inharmoniously; inimically; insensitively; insincerely; insolently; insubordinately; insultingly; lewdly; libelously; loutishly; negatively; obscenely; offhandedly; pesteringly; rashly; rudely; snidely; tactlessly; tartly; tastelessly; thanklessly; thoughtlessly; unamiably; unapologetically; unceremoniously; uncharitably; uncivilly; uncommunicatively; uncordially; uncouthly; unethically; ungenerously; ungenially; ungraciously; ungratefully; unharmoniously; uninhibitedly; unkindly; unpleasantly; unprofessionally; unrefinedly; unwelcomingly.

"I don't care what you think," Martin said
abrasively
.

"No," he said
bluntly
. "I don't need your help."

"Hey you," she demanded
impolitely
, "get me a drink."

Thanklessly
, she replied: "Now fetch me my coat."

"Perhaps if you weren't so thick," he said
unkindly
, "you wouldn't need a handout."

academically; accurately; adroitly; amorally; analytically; aptly; articulately; astutely; bluffly; bluntly; briefly; briskly; candidly; civilly; clinically; cogently; competently; composedly; concisely; conscientiously; consideringly; critically; darkly; deadpan; decisively; deductively; diligently; diplomatically; directly; direly; dryly/drily; educationally; eloquently; enlightenedly; enquiringly; enterprisingly; eruditely; expansively; experiencedly; expertly; explanatively; explicitly; factually; fairly; firmly; flatly; fluently; formally; forthrightly; forwardly; frankly; frugally; geekily; groundedly; heavily; heedfully; helpfully; illuminatedly; illustratively; importantly; informatively; ingeniously; instructively; intelligently; intensely; intently; interrogatively; knowledgeably; laboriously; laconically; learnedly; legalistically; lengthily; leniently; limpidly; logically; long-windedly; matter-of-factly; maturely; meaningfully; measuredly; meditatively; methodically; meticulously; militaristically; mindfully; morally; notably; observantly; officially; passionlessly; patiently; pedantically; penetratingly; perspicaciously; perspicuously; pertinently; philosophically; plainly; poignantly; pointblank; pointedly; politically; potently; powerfully; practically; pragmatically; precisely; probingly; professionally; proficiently; progressively; prolifically; prosaically; prosily; puritanically; purposefully; rationally; realistically; realizingly; reasonably; responsibly; restrainedly; rhetorically; rigidly; sagaciously; sagely; scholastically; scientifically; sensibly; seriously; severely; sharply; shrewdly; significantly; simply; skillfully; smartly; soberly; staunchly; steadfastly; steelily; sternly; stiffly; stoically; stolidly; stonily; straightfacedly; strategically; strictly; studiously; systematically; tautly; tensely; tersely; theoretically; tightly; unamusedly; unblinkingly; unerringly; unfalteringly; unfazedly; unflinchingly; unsmilingly; validly; verbosely; warningly; weightily; wisely; wordily.

"According to statistics," he said
academically
, "most people are unable to cope with stress."

"I tried to do my part," she said
conscientiously
. "Unfortunately, they didn't let me."

"The seas of change are upon us," the CEO said
eloquently
.

David replied
matter-of-factly
, "Perhaps you should concentrate on your own job."

"Children need love to flourish," she offered
sagely
.

adamantly; anarchically; antagonistically; antisocially; argumentatively; bossily; brattily; bullheadedly; cantankerously; close-mindedly; combatively; contumaciously; defiantly; determinedly; disagreeably; disagreeingly; disobediently; dissentingly; doggedly; dogmatically; formidably; hardheadedly; immovably; immutably; impedingly; impertinently; implacably; inflexibly; intransigently; mulishly; mutinously; noncompliantly; obdurately; obstinately; obstreperously; obtrusively; offensively; opinionatedly; opposedly; perseveringly; persistently; pertinaciously; petulantly; pigheadedly; protestingly; rebelliously; recalcitrantly; refractorily; resolutely; resolvedly; rigidly; singlemindedly; stubbornly; territorially; unbendingly; uncompliantly; uncompromisingly; uncooperatively; unequivocally; unreasonably; unreceptively; unrelentingly; unshakably; unwaveringly; unwillingly; unyieldingly; willfully.