Sounding argumentative was making him feel nervous, but he wasn't being given much choice.

"I don't want to sound argumentative, but is that really true?"

He was struggling to strike the right tone in his response, trying not to sound argumentative.

Obviously it is not only my recessive genes that are affected by your potions, Doctor," Spock said trying to sound argumentative.

"This is starting to sound argumentative," said Mal.

He sounded argumentative, as though Shawn were trying to stop him, and Shawn wasn't.

She did not sound angry or argumentative, but simply as though stating the facts as she saw them.

"I don't think so," I told him, without sounding argumentative, or even too firm on the point.

The question sounded weakly argumentative even to her own ears.

I don't mean to sound argumentative; I'm honestly curious.