The Dialogue Thesaurus: A Fiction Writer's Sourcebook of Dialogue Tags and Phrases (10 page)

jaded; jarred; jaundiced; jaunty; jazzed; jazzy; jealous; jeered; jejune; jeopardized; jerked around; jilted; jinxed; jittery; jocular; jolly; jolted; jostled; jovial; joyful; joyless; joyous; jubilant; judged; judgmental; judicious; juiced; jumbled; jumpy; justified; juvenile.

jaundice; jealousy; jejunity; jeopardy / in jeopardy; jitters; jocularity; jolliness; joviality / jovialness; joy; joyousness; jubilance; judgment; judiciousness; justification.

keen; kept; kicked around; kind; kindhearted; kingly; kinky; knackered; knightly; knocked around; knocked (down); knocked out; knotted (up); knowledgeable; kooky.

keenness; kindheartedness; kindness; kingliness; kinkiness; knightliness; knowledgeability; kookiness.

labeled; labored; lackadaisical; lackluster; laconic; laid back; lambasted; lame; languid; larger than life; lascivious; late; laughed at; lavish; lax; lazy; lean; learned; lecherous; lectured to; led astray; leery; left out; let down; lethargic; level-headed; lewd; liable; liberated; licentious; lied about; lied to; lifeless; light; light-hearted; liked; limited; limp; lionhearted; listless; little; lively; livid; loath; loathed; loathing; loathsome; logical; lonely; lonesome; longing; loopy; loose; lopsided; lost; loud; lousy; loutish; loved; loveless; lovelorn; lovely; lovestruck; loving; low; low-spirited; lowly; loyal; lubricious; luckless; lucky; lucid; ludicrous; lugubrious; luminous; lush; lustful; lusty; luxurious.

laboredness; lackadaisicalness; lameness; languidness; lasciviousness; lateness; lavishness; laxness; laziness; leanness; learnedness; lechery / lecherousness; leeriness; lethargy; level-headedness; lewdness; liability / liableness; liberation; licentiousness lifelessness; light-heartedness; lightness; limitedness; limpness; listlessness; littleness; liveliness; lividity / lividness; loathness; loneliness; lonesomeness; longing; loopiness; looseness; lopsidedness; loss; loudness; lousiness; loutishness; love; lovelessness; loveliness; lovelornness; lovingness; low-spiritedness; lowliness; lowness; loyalty; lubriciousness; lucidity; luck / luckiness; lucklessness; ludicrousness; lugubriosity / lugubriousness; luminosity / luminance; lushness; lust; lustfulness; luxuriousness.

macabre; macho; mad; maddened; magical; magnificent; maimed; majestic; maladjusted; malcontent; malevolent; malicious; maligned; malleable; malnourished; managerial; manhandled; maniacal; manic; manipulated; manipulative; manly; marginalized; marked; marvelous; masochistic; massive; masterful; materialistic; maternal; mature; maudlin; meager; mean; measly; medicated; mediocre; meditative; meek; megalomaniacal; melancholic; mellow; melodramatic; menaced; menacing; mended; merciful; merry; mesmerized; messed up; messy; methodical; meticulous; mighty; militant; mindful; mindless; miniscule; miraculous; mirthful; mirthless; misanthropic; mischievous; miscreant; miserable; miserly; misguided; misinformed; misled; misrepresented; missed; mistreated; mistrusted; mistrustful; misunderstood; misused; mixed up; mocked; modest; molested; mollified; mollycoddled; momentous; monitored; monstrous; moody; mopey; moral; moralistic; morally bankrupt; morbid; mordant; moribund; moronic; morose; mortified; mothered; motherly; motivated; mournful; mouthy; moved; muddied; muddled; mundane; murderous; murky; mushy; musical; mutinous; mysterious; mystical; mystified.

machismo; madness; magnificence; majesty; maladjustment; malaise; malcontentedness; malevolence; malice / maliciousness; malleability; malnourishment; mania; manipulation; manliness; marginalization; marvellousness; masochism; massiveness; mastery; materialism; maturity; maudlinism / maudlinness; meagerness; meanness; mediocrity; meditativeness; meekness; megalomania; melancholy; mellowness; melodrama; menace; mercy; merriment; mesmerization; messiness; meticulousness / meticulosity; might / mightiness; militancy; mindfulness; mindlessness; miraculousness; mirth; mischief; miscreancy; miserliness; misery; misgivings; misguidedness; missed; mistreatment; mistrust; mistrustfulness; misunderstanding; mockery; modesty; molestation; mollification; momentousness; moodiness; mopeiness; morality; morbidity; mordancy; moribundity; morosity; mortification; motherliness; motivation; mournfulness; mouthiness; mundanity; murderousness; murkiness; mushiness; mutiny; mystery / mysteriousness; mysticality / mysticalness; mystification.

nagged; nailed (down); naive; naked; nameless; narcissistic; narrow-minded; nasty; natural; naughty; nauseated; nebulous; necessary; needed; needled; needless; needy; negated; negative; neglected; negligent; neighborly; nerdy; nervous; nervy; nettled; neurotic; neutral; nice; niggardly; nihilistic; nippy; nit-picky; noble; nomadic; nonchalant; noncommittal; nonconforming; nondescript; nonexistent; nonplussed; normal; nostalgic; nosy; noticed; novel; nullified; numb; nurtured; nurturing; nutty.

naivety; nakedness; namelessness; narcissism; narrow-mindedness; nastiness; naturalness; naughtiness; nausea; nebulousness; necessity; need; neediness; needlessness; negation; negativity; neglect; negligence; neighborliness; nerdiness; nerves; nervousness; neutrality; niceness; niggardliness; nihilism; nippiness; nobleness; non-commitment; nonchalance; nonconformity; nonexistence; normality; nostalgia; nothing; numbness; nuts.

obedient; objectified; obligated; obliged; obliging; oblivious; obnoxious; obscene; obsequious; observant; observed; obsessed; obsessive; obsolete; obstinate; obstructed; odd; off; off balance; offended; offensive; officious; okay; old; old-fashioned; omnipotent; open; open-minded; opinionated; opportunistic; opposed; oppositional; oppressed; optimistic; opulent; ordered around; orderly; organized; orgasmic; ornery; ostentatious; ostracized; ousted; outdone; outgoing; outlandish; outnumbered; out of control; out of place; out of touch; outraged; outrageous; outranked; outreasoned; outspoken; overanxious; overbearing; overcome; overestimated; overjoyed; overloaded; overlooked; overpowered; overprotective; oversensitive; overwhelmed; overworked; overwrought; overzealous; owned.

obedience; objectification; obligation; obliviousness; obnoxiousness; obscenity; obsequiousness; obsession; obsessiveness; obsolescence; obstinateness; obstruction; oddness; offensiveness; officiousness; oldness; omnipotence; openness; open-mindedness; opinionatedness; opposition; oppression; optimism; opulence / opulency; order; organization; orneriness; ostentatiousness; ostracization; outlandishness; outrage; outrageousness; outspokenness; overanxiety / overanxiousness; overbearingness; overestimation; overprotectiveness; oversensitivity / oversensitiveness; overzealousness.

pacified; pained; painful; pampered; panicked; panicky; paralyzed; paranoid; parasitic; pardoned; parsimonious; partial; passionate; passionless; passive; paternal; pathetic; patient; patronizing; peaceful; peachy; peckish; peculiar; pedantic; pedestrian; peeved; peevish; pensive; peppy; perceptive; peremptory; perfect; perfectionistic; perilous; peripheral; perky; perplexed; persecuted; persevering; persistent; persnickety; perspicacious; persuaded; persuasive; pert; perturbed; perverted; pervious; pesky; pessimistic; pestered; petered out; petrified; petty; petulant; philanthropic; phlegmatic; phony; picked on; pierced; pigeon-holed; pious; piqued; pissed; pissed off; piteous; pitied; pitiful; pitiless; placated; placid; plagued; plain; playful; pleasant; pleased; pleasurable; pliable; pliant; poised; poisoned; polite; pompous; poor; poorly; popular; portentous; positive; possessed; possessive; potent; pouty; powerful; powerless; practical; pragmatic; praised; preached to; precarious; precious; precluded; precocious; prejudged; prejudiced; preoccupied; prepared; preposterous; prescient; pressed; pressured; prestigious; presumptuous; pretentious; pretty; preyed upon; prideful; prim; primal; primitive; prissy; pristine; privileged; prized; proactive; probed; prodigious; productive; profane; professional; promiscuous; propagandistic; propagandized; propelled; proper; prophetic; prosaic; prosperous; protected; protective; proud; provincial; provisional; provocative; provoked; prudish; psyched; psychopathic; psychotic; puerile; pugnacious; pulled apart; pummeled; pumped (up); punch drunk; punched; punished; puny; pure; purged; purposeful; pursued; pushy; pusillanimous; put down; put out; puzzled.

pacification; pain; pamperedness; panic; paralysis; paranoia; parasiticalness; parsimony; partiality; passion; passionlessness; passivity / passiveness; patheticness; patience; patronization; peace; peachiness; peckishness; peculiarity; pedanticalness; pedestrianism; peevishness; pensiveness; peppiness; perceptivity / perceptiveness; peremptoriness; perfection; perfectionistic; peril; perkiness; perplexity; persecution; perseverance; persistence; persnicketiness; perspicaciousness; persuasion; pertness; perturbability; pervertion; perviousness; peskiness; pessimism; petrification; pettiness; petulance; phlegmaticness; phoniness; piousness; piteousness; pitilessness; pity; placation; placidity / placidness; plainness; playfulness; pleasantness; pleasure; pliability; poise; politeness; pomp; poorness; popularity; portent; positivity; possession; possessiveness; potency; poutiness; power; powerlessness; practicality; pragmaticism; precariousness; preciousness; preclusion; precociousness; prejudice; preoccupation; preparation; preposterousness; prescience; pressure; prestige; presumption; pretension; prettiness; pride; primitiveness / primitivity; primness; prissiness; privilege; privy to (...); proactivity / proactiveness; prodigiousness; productivity; profanity; professionalism; promiscuousness; prone to (...); properness; propheticality / propheticalness; prosaicness; prosperousness; protection; proudness; provocativeness; prudishness; psychosis; pugnaciousness; puniness; punishment; purity; purpose; pushed to (...); pushiness; puzzlement.

quaint; qualified; qualmish; quarrelsome; quashed; queasy; queer; querulous; questioned; quick; quiescent; quiet; quirky; quivery; quixotic; quizzed; quizzical.

quaintness; qualm; quandary; queasiness; queerness; querulousness; quickness; quiescence; quietness; quietude; quirkiness.

rad; radiant; radical; rageful; railroaded; raked over; rambunctious; rancid; randy; ransacked; rapacious; raped; rapt; rapturous; rash; rational; rattled; raunchy; ravenous; ravished; ravishing; raw; re-energized; reactionary; reactive; ready; realistic; reasonable; reassured; rebellious; reborn; rebuffed; rebuked; recalcitrant; receptive; recharged; reckless; reclusive; reconciled; recovered; recuperated; red-hot; redeemed; refined; reflective; refractory; refreshed; refueled; regal; regretful; rejected; rejuvenated; relaxed; released; relentless; reliable; reliant; relieved; religious; reluctant; reminiscent; remiss; remorseful; remorseless; remote; removed; renewed; renowned; repatriated; repelled; repentant; replaceable; replaced; replenished; reprehensible; repressed; reprimanded; reproachful; reproved; repugnant; repulsed; repulsive; resented; resentful; reserved; resigned; resilient; resistant; resolute; resolved; resourceful; respected; respectful; responsible; responsive; rested; restless; restrained; restricted; retaliatory; retarded; reticent; revealed; revengeful; revered; reverent; reviled; revitalized; revived; revolted; revolting; revolutionary; rewarded; rich; ridiculed; ridiculous; right; righteous; rigid; rigorous; riled; ripped; ripped off; riveted; robbed; robotic; robust; romantic; rotten; rough; rowdy; rude; rueful; ruffled; ruined; ruled; run down; rushed; ruthful; ruthless.

radiance; radicalness; rage; rambunctiousness; rancidness / rancidity; randiness; rapacity / rapaciousness; raptness; rapture; rashness; rationality; raunchiness; ravenousness; rawness; readiness; realism; reasonability; reassurance; rebellion; recalcitrance; receptivity / receptiveness; recklessness; reconciliation; recuperation; redemption; refinement; reflection; refractoriness; regalness; regret; rejection; rejuvenation; relaxation; release; relentlessness; reliability; reliance; relief; religiousness; reluctance; reminiscence; remissness; remorse; remorselessness; remoteness; removal; renewal; renown; repatriation; repentance; replenishment; reprehensibility; repression; reproachfulness; reproval; repugnance; repulsion; repulsiveness; resentfulness; reservation; resignation; resilience; resistance; resolution; resourcefulness; respect; responsibility; responsiveness; rest; restlessness; restraint; restriction; retaliation; retardation; reticence; revelation; revenge; reverence; revilement; revitalization; revival; revolt; revolution; revulsion; reward; richness; ridicule; ridiculousness; righteousness; rightness; rigidity; rigor; roboticness; robustness; romance; rottenness; roughness; rowdiness; rudeness; ruefulness; ruin; ruthfulness; ruthlessness.

sabotaged; sacrificial; sacrilegious; sad; sadistic; safe; sagacious; salacious; sanctimonious; sane; sanguinary; sanguine; sapient; sarcastic; sardonic; sassy; sated; satiated; satisfied; saturnine; saucy; savvy; scandalized; scandalous; scapegoated; scared; scarred; scatterbrained; scattered; scheming; scientific; scintillating; scoffed at; scolded; scorned; scornful; screwed; screwed over; screwed up; scrutinized; scurrilous; seared; second-guessed; second-rate; secure; sedate; seditious; seduced; seductive; seized; selective; self-abasing; self-absorbed; self-accepting; self-aggrandizing; self-assured; self-centered; self-confident; self-conscious; self-critical; self-deprecating; self-destructive; self-disciplined; self-effacing; self-forgiving; self-hating; self-indulgent; self-loathing; self-pitying; self-reliant; self-righteous; self-sacrificing; self-satisfied; self-serving; self-understanding; selfish; selfless; senile; sensational; sensible; sensitive; sensual; sensuous; sentenced; sentimental; separated; serendipitous; serene; serious; servile; set; settled; set up; sexy; shadowed; shaken; shaky; shallow; shamed; shameful; sharp; shattered; sheepish; sheltered; shielded; shocked; shortchanged; shrewd; shunned; shut out; shy; sick; sick at heart; sickened; significant; silenced; silent; silly; simple; sincere; sinful; single-minded; singled out; sinister; skanky; skeptical; sketchy; skillful; skittish; slack; slandered; sleazy; sledged; sleepy; slighted; sloppy; sloshed; slothful; slovenly; slow; sluggish; slutty; sly; small; smarmy; smart; smashed; smitten; smooth; smothered; smug; snarky; sneaky; snobbish; snobby; snoopy; snubbed; sober; sociable; social; sodden; soft; soft-hearted; sold out; solemn; solitary; somber; soothed; sophisticated; sophomoric; sordid; sore; sorrowful; sorry; sour; spastic; special; speechless; spellbound; spent; spineless; spirited; spiritless; spiteful; splendid; splendiferous; spoiled; spontaneous; spooked; sprightly; spry; spunky; squeamish; stable; stalked; startled; starved; static; stepped on; stereotyped; stern; stiff; stifled; stigmatized; stilted; stimulated; stingy; stodgy; stoic; stolid; stomped on; stoned; stonewalled; strained; stranded; strange; strangled; strengthened; stressed; stretched; stricken; strict; strong; strong-willed; struck down; struck dumb; stubborn; stuck; stuck up; studious; stuffed; stumped; stunned; stunning; stupefied; stupendous; stupid; stylish; suave; subdued; subjugated; submissive; subordinate; subservient; subversive; subverted; successful; suckered; suffering; suffocated; suicidal; sulky; sullen; sullied; sunk; sunny; super; superb; supercilious; superficial; superior; superstitious; supported; supportive; suppressed; sure; surly; surpassed; surprised; surreal; susceptible; suspicious; swamped; sweet; swell; swindled; switched on; sycophantic; sympathetic.