zinger

noun

zing·​er ˈziŋ-ər 

1

: something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock

2

: a pointed witty remark or retort

Examples of zinger in a Sentence

The candidate couldn't help getting off a zinger or two about his opponent.

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet, for all of the solid zingers, there’s still enough room between the jokes for real emotion to trickle in. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 16 July 2024

While amusing in their own right, these zingers have a plot function as well. —Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 July 2024

Likewise, if a candidate scores a rhetorical coup, how will a zinger be good fodder for campaign teams to hype? —Heather Hendershot / Made By History, TIME, 27 June 2024

Labarre said that this debate strategy, however, has been turning off some voters as the candidates have been more combative and aggressive in their debating, looking for zingers to go viral. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 26 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1