1
as in insults
a quick witty response
she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in responses
something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question
the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in replies
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction
when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, "Fine, I didn't want it anyway!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retorts
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The hearing also lacked contentious partisan moments, but there were some sharp retorts.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Affleck's Will retorts as a wink to David Schwimmer's line as Ross Geller to Aniston's Rachel Green on Friends.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
The Moon is at odds with three planets, which can trigger arguments, snide remarks and even cruel retorts.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
In amongst the abuse hurled at Rory McIlroy, the beer thrown at Rory McIlroy, the emphatic retorts from Rory McIlroy and also some golf from Rory McIlory (and 23 other guys), something interesting kept cropping up during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Smaller groups of five, 40 or a little under a hundred people gather routinely with posters, chants and, sometimes, retorts for passing motorists who support the president.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Rank-and-file Democrats also have applauded Pritzker’s bullish retorts to Trump in recent days.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
But businesses are hoping for more than just retorts.
—Satviki Sanjay Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
In theory, Thune has an open-door policy and frequently retorts that Schumer has his cellphone number or can make the short walk to his office.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
LeBron James didn’t hold back from his retorts over his late-in-the-game elbow injury Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The hearing also lacked contentious partisan moments, but there were some sharp retorts.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Affleck's Will retorts as a wink to David Schwimmer's line as Ross Geller to Aniston's Rachel Green on Friends.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
The Moon is at odds with three planets, which can trigger arguments, snide remarks and even cruel retorts.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
In amongst the abuse hurled at Rory McIlroy, the beer thrown at Rory McIlroy, the emphatic retorts from Rory McIlroy and also some golf from Rory McIlory (and 23 other guys), something interesting kept cropping up during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Smaller groups of five, 40 or a little under a hundred people gather routinely with posters, chants and, sometimes, retorts for passing motorists who support the president.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Rank-and-file Democrats also have applauded Pritzker’s bullish retorts to Trump in recent days.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
But businesses are hoping for more than just retorts.
—Satviki Sanjay Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
Olga retorts that his bird’s-eye analysis is a clever way of doing nothing.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
In theory, Thune has an open-door policy and frequently retorts that Schumer has his cellphone number or can make the short walk to his office.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retorts
Noun
-
There are comic insults and lines of great beauty.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such responses are activated when animals are confronted with imminent danger.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Student docents are available during visiting hours to answer questions and transcripts of survivor responses are shown as part of the exhibit.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Eunice only replies that the chairwoman is excited to work with him and Ashley on the wellness center.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Maddy replies that Cassie might currently just be a big fish in a small pond.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The exchanges have included headline-making ripostes from Christian Pulisic and his entourage.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Celtics won by 32 and Philly will be searching for answers.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Hundreds of protesters filled the streets of Pilsen on Sunday afternoon, chanting for justice and answers in a fatal hit-and-run that has remained unsolved for nine months.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every generation faces a new wave of technological disruption and responds with the same blend of overconfidence, short-termism, and reluctance to let go of what’s working.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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These datasets help recreate how a model responds, enabling the development of competing systems at lower cost.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nobody was bigger in the biggest moments, from late-game comebacks at Penn State and Iowa to historic wins against Ohio State and Miami.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Flyers and Penguins are both involved in the four successful comebacks.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retorts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retorts. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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