retort 1 of 2

noun

Definition of retortnext
1
as in riposte
a quick witty response she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in response
something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

retort

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈtȯrt How to pronounce retort (audio)
as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, "Fine, I didn't want it anyway!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun retort differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of retort are answer, rejoinder, reply, and response. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.

she made a cutting retort to her critics

When can answer be used instead of retort?

While the synonyms answer and retort are close in meaning, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

In what contexts can rejoinder take the place of retort?

Although the words rejoinder and retort have much in common, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

When would reply be a good substitute for retort?

The synonyms reply and retort are sometimes interchangeable, but reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

When is it sensible to use response instead of retort?

While in some cases nearly identical to retort, response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.

a response to the call for recruits

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retort
Noun
Last week, Johnson’s office walked back one of his sharpest retorts to Trump yet, over the president’s threats to revoke funds from school districts that promote diversity, equity and inclusion practices. —Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025 Cena delivered more gems on the mic, but Rhodes had some solid retorts. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
Rubio retorted by pointing to 1,500 State Department officials who took early retirement in buyouts. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025 Trump demanded $500 billion in Ukraine's minerals as repayment for U.S. assistance, but Zelenskyy retorted that American aid hasn't come close to that enormous figure. —Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
  1. riposte
  2. response
  3. respond
  4. insult
  5. answer
  6. reply
  7. repartee
  8. comeback
Noun
  • All such theories, however, have appeared to be unreliable and speculative since any first strikes would have to contend with the risk of an enemy launch on warning as well as sufficient systems surviving for a devastating riposte.
    — Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Less than two minutes later, Isak delivered his usual riposte.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of riposte
Noun
  • The diminished virulence that the pathogen evolved in response to more of its hosts dying potentially caused these earlier plague pandemics to fizzle out.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025
  • After the stock market plunged in response to the levies, Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs for most countries, lowering the tariffs to a universal 10% rate.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Definition of response
Verb
  • The White House did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment on the new nonprofit.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • While its multibillion-dollar budget has only grown, the number of low-level arrests and traffic stops have plummeted, and staffing shortages have forced the department to focus more on responding to and solving violent crimes.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Definition of respond
Noun
  • They were quickly showered with boos and insults, along with various food items and beverages, including my mother’s large Pepsi.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • The statue was widely reviled by locals, who saw its abstract look as ugly and an insult to the first lady.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2025
Definition of insult
Noun
  • But some critics have noted his erratic behavior, such as his Nazi-like gesture at a rally, garbled answers during interviews, and frequent insults of top Trump officials.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 30 May 2025
  • The answer may reshape how commercial Indian cinema approaches audience engagement in the streaming age.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 May 2025
Definition of answer
Verb
  • Our time can get snapped up by sitting in meetings, replying to emails, and responding to urgent requests.
    — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The Trump administration did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 May 2025
Definition of reply
Noun
  • Most voters are worried about high prices for food, energy and housing, rather than their leader’s Oval Office repartee.
    — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2025
  • For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.
    — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of repartee
Noun
  • The comeback from an elbow injury is not unique, even increasingly expected.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
  • Inter stuns Barcelona with improbable comeback to reach another Champions League final Transgender women soccer players to be banned from English women’s teams Wrexham is one step from the Premier League.
    — Ronald Blum, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2025
Definition of comeback

Browse Nearby Words

retools
retort
retorted
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Cite this Entry

“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on retort

Nglish: Translation of retort for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about retort

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