retort 1 of 2

retort

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun retort differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of retort are answer, rejoinder, reply, and response. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," 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

When can answer be used instead of retort?

While the synonyms answer and retort are close in meaning, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

In what contexts can rejoinder take the place of retort?

Although the words rejoinder and retort have much in common, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

When would reply be a good substitute for retort?

The synonyms reply and retort are sometimes interchangeable, but reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

When is it sensible to use response instead of retort?

While in some cases nearly identical to retort, 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

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 retort
Noun
His inquiries are met with gruff retorts by the barman, who is only interested in Henry buying a pint. Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025 And as trade speculation has risen, Harris reported a sarcastic one-word retort from the pitcher. Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Verb
Boro’s fanbase will retort that there has been more than one of those lately. Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Rhodes further retorted with a crude remark about Cena's microphone skills versus his physical attributes, and cautioned him against exaggerating his positive impact on WWE upon his departure. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
Noun
  • Losing in three sets was a riposte to those who feared the match wouldn’t be competitive.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • But when Wales offered riposte, France looked vulnerable.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • The final mix includes botanicals, minerals, and vitamins such as holy basil for stress response, curcumin to promote a healthy immune response, konjac root to address oil production, and probiotics to optimize the microbiome.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike traditional applications requiring instant responses, AI operations can tolerate delays—training waits minutes while applications like ChatGPT work perfectly, delivering responses over hundreds of milliseconds.
    Daniel Kearney, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At least three of the drones were shot down, Warsaw said, with Polish F-16 and Dutch F-35 fighter jets scrambled to respond.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • To respond to a volatile inflation crisis, should the CEO of Burger & Bites, a fictional fast-food chain, introduce dynamic pricing to its restaurants?
    Elie Ofek, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Young Thug wasn’t the only target, however, as his girlfriend, Mariah The Scientist, also caught a few shots for entertaining Thugger’s insults over the phone.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Bluesky, part of the decentralized internet, is slower paced and caters to niche interests, rewarding internecine fights over minutiae, whereas X is deliberately chaotic, encouraging the gathering of follower-armies and ideological insult-comedy for an audience that may be largely made up of bots.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Check out our hints and answers right here.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These answers could come in the coming decades with future missions.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Smith replied that private schools must submit renewal packets every year before they are approved to continue participation in the accounts program, and that the agency compares the new tuition rates against the older rates.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The Kennedy Center's press office did not immediately reply to NPR's request for comment on the dismissal and a query about the future of jazz and Millennium Stage programming.
    Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But mainly the kids banter in pig Latin or in a screwball repartee fashioned from overheard adult speech.
    Dan Chiasson, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Nolan made a successful political comeback as then-President Barack Obama won a second term.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, winning eight matches and halving another to clinch the Cup by half a point.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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