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as in to respond
to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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reply

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun reply differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reply are answer, rejoinder, response, and retort. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

Where would answer be a reasonable alternative to reply?

Although the words answer and reply have much in common, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

When can rejoinder be used instead of reply?

The meanings of rejoinder and reply largely overlap; however, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

When is response a more appropriate choice than reply?

The words response and reply can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When would retort be a good substitute for reply?

In some situations, the words retort and reply are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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 reply
Verb
Swift's team did not reply to an email request for comment. Bryan West, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 Frazier replied as Rocky continued laughing. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
The day of the service, federal prosecutors said, Delgado made the threatening reply on Nessel's post. Christina Hall, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025 The department’s responses (and the AFT’s reply) are due in October. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reply
Verb
  • Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within 30 seconds and killed the shooter about eight minutes later, Renye said.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The State Department referred a request for comment on potential impacts to passport processing to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not immediately respond.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After junior Zander Govostes drilled a 22-yard field goal to push Xaverian’s lead to 10-0 later in the frame, Springfield Central (2-1) answered.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Indeed, the answer to the question Alan Sparks raised about what happens to all of the money flowing through the county government is one that even local authorities are unable, or unwilling, to answer.
    Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Alameda County public defender Brendon Woods is speaking out in response to a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid inside a courthouse in Oakland.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Keep in mind that these responses are usually experienced by men and women, Bert Mandelbaum, MD, sports medicine specialist at the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, tells SELF.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The reality star's ex-husband, Jon Gosselin, and one of their sextuplets, Collin, have taken to Instagram to react to and fuel the rumors that Kate is dating Steve Neild, the family's bodyguard she was accused of having an affair with in 2009, the same year she and Jon got divorced.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
  • How local leaders are reacting [Get our breaking news alerts.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The vigil, which had been planned several weeks in advance, was organized by the Genesee County Republican Party as a reaction to violent incidents such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
    Tess Ware, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Keeping your hands free while solo and on the move enhances alertness by minimizing distractions and improves reaction time for unexpected situations.
    Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reply. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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