answer back
verb
answered back; answering back; answers back
somewhat informal
: to reply to someone especially in a rude way
impolite children who answer back when their teacher corrects them
Examples of answer back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The problem is Atlanta kept answering back.
—
Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
After Carolina’s quick goal, Montreal answered back just 27 seconds later … and then scored three more times in the game’s first 12 minutes.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 22 May 2026
The Hawks answered back on the ensuing possession.
—Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2026
The Yankees answered back with a first-inning solo homer from Aaron Judge, his eighth of the season and fifth in his last five games, and a two-run blast from Giancarlo Stanton, his second of the year, in the third frame.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
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Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
After Carolina’s quick goal, Montreal answered back just 27 seconds later … and then scored three more times in the game’s first 12 minutes.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 22 May 2026
The Hawks answered back on the ensuing possession.
—Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2026
The Yankees answered back with a first-inning solo homer from Aaron Judge, his eighth of the season and fifth in his last five games, and a two-run blast from Giancarlo Stanton, his second of the year, in the third frame.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for answer back
Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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