retort

1 of 4

verb (1)

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯrt 

retorted; retorting; retorts

transitive verb

1

: to pay or hurl back : return

retort an insult

2

a

: to make a reply to

I will retort the question … by another question.

—Winston Churchill

b

: to say in reply

"That's not true!" she retorted.

3

: to answer (an argument) by a counter argument

intransitive verb

1

: to answer back usually sharply

He retorted angrily.

2

: to return an argument or charge

3

: retaliate

retort

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a quick, witty, or cutting reply

especially : one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words

retort

3 of 4

noun (2)

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯrt  ˈrē-ˌtȯrt 

: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

Illustration of retort

• ³retort

retort

4 of 4

verb (2)

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯrt 

ˈrē-ˌtȯrt

retorted; retorting; retorts

transitive verb

: to treat (something, such as oil shale) by heating in a retort

Synonyms of retort

Verb (1)

• respond
• reply
• answer

Noun (1)

• riposte
• insult
• repartee
• comeback

Choose the Right Synonym for retort

answer, response, reply, rejoinder, retort mean something spoken, written, or done in return.

answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

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

reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

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

Examples of retort in a Sentence

Verb (1)

when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, "Fine, I didn't want it anyway!"

Noun (1)

she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience

the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Johnson’s spokesperson retorted Wednesday that aldermen were crying foul over a practice that’s been required for over two years. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

Hellerstein retorted in one exchange with the prosecutor, questioning how the Maduros’ ability to pay their lawyers had any bearing on national security. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Noun

If, by our standard, that is glaring plagiarism, the obvious retort is that the standard of the early seventeenth century was a very different beast. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

LeBron James didn’t hold back from his retorts over his late-in-the-game elbow injury Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin, feminine of retortus; from its shape

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1505, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1527, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1850, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing retort

• retort pouch

Rhymes for retort

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Kids Definition

retort

1 of 3 verb

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 

1

: to answer back : reply angrily or sharply

2

: to reply to an argument with an opposing argument

retort

2 of 3 noun

: a quick, witty, or angry reply

retort

3 of 3 noun

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 

ˈrē-ˌtȯ(ə)rt

: a container in which substances are distilled or broken down by heat

Etymology

Verb

from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally "to twist back, hurl back," from re- "back, again" and torquēre "to twist" — related to distort, extort, torture

Noun

from early French retorte "a vessel in which substances are distilled," derived from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre "to twist"; probably so called from its shape

Medical Definition

retort

noun

re·​tort ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt  ˈrē-ˌ 

: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat