1
: a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry
2
: a retaliatory verbal sally : retort
3
: a retaliatory maneuver or measure
riposte
verb
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In the sport of fencing, a riposte is a counterattack made after successfully fending off one's opponent. English speakers borrowed the name for this particular maneuver from French in the early 1700s, but the French had simply modified the Italian word risposta, which literally means "answer." Ultimately these words come from the Latin verb respondēre, meaning "to respond." It seems fitting that riposte has since come full circle to now refer to a quick and witty response performed as a form of retaliation.
Examples of riposte in a Sentence
he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult
Recent Examples on the Web
Beating the best that Europe had to offer in the Champions League was a neat riposte.
—
Phil Hay
june 2, New York Times, 2 June 2025
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
During that riposte, Al-Khelaifi revealed his theory of why the Argentine found things difficult in the French capital.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riposte
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Phil Hay
june 2, New York Times, 2 June 2025
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
During that riposte, Al-Khelaifi revealed his theory of why the Argentine found things difficult in the French capital.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riposte
Cite this Entry
“Riposte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riposte. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
riposte
noun
ri·poste
ri-ˈpōst 
1
: a fencer's quick return thrust
2
: a quick reply or action in return
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