BACK TALKS Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

back talk

noun

Definition of back talk

as in disrespect

disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request his mother sent him to his room because of his constant back talk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 back talk There’s no back talk and no emotional baggage, just pure obedience. — Jason Parham, Wired News, 26 Feb. 2026 Learn how to raise responsible kids; put an end to arguing, back talk and begging; avoid power struggles; and preserve loving relationships with your children. — Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for back talk

Noun

What readers are saying The comments express frustration and disappointment over the littering and disrespect shown by visitors to national parks, particularly Yellowstone.

— Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
The board's vague message didn't point to specific administrators or specific instances of disrespect.

— Aubrey Wright, IndyStar, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrespect

Noun

The team also mapped this change to the ventrolateral striatum (VLS), an area of the striatum involved particularly in movements of the mouth and tongue.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
After all, how dare the franchise depart from its humble instrumental beginnings and have a human making mouth noises over the opening credits?

— Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of mouth

Noun

Susi Singer’s figurative candlestick has style and sass that owes at least partly to its earthenware origins, favored at the Werkstätte for its affordability over porcelain, but much less capable of refined shapes.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Played to perfection by Robert Picardo, the Emergency Medical Hologram was programmed to save lives and give sass.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026

Definition of sass

Noun

All told, the McCauleys stole at least $12 million, getting creative in hiding cash — by stuffing it into jars of spaghetti sauce, for example.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Full-sized are hearty enough for dinner over rice, but minis make a great party app served with the sauce on the side for dipping.

— Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of sauce

Cite this Entry

Style

“Back talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20talk. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of back talk

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

adventitious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes