riposte 1 of 2

as in retort
a quick witty response he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

riposte

2 of 2

verb

as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction at cocktail parties she could riposte with lightning speed to even the most unexpected quip

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 riposte
Noun
This seemed to be a function of its light weight and thinness, a riposte to the ubiquitous Michelin Man-esque puffer. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025 The book might be considered a riposte to both right-wing and left-wing historiography in India; right-wing historians make fantastic claims that cloak India’s real and substantial achievements, while those on the left prioritize social history in a way that displaces intellectual achievement. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 China's export controls on strategic metals, a riposte to President Donald Trump's tariff hike, are being seen less as an economic blow and more as a warning shot to bring the United States to the negotiating table. Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Many saw the 40-year-old's base salary as a direct riposte to Verlander, who was Scherzer's teammate with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riposte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riposte
Noun
  • She’s always equipped with a sense of humor and a sharp retort.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
  • In another now-viral post, Sanders would clap back at the Detroit native, as well as Jacquees’ mother, with a fiery retort.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Gordon reasoned that the WNBA met its duties by investigating and responding to Hamby’s allegations against the Aces.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 June 2025
  • Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by suing the administration.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Hammack should have replied to Smith that a central banker planning something as complicated as the cost of credit would be as foolhardy as a president planning Harvard’s class of 2029, multiplied by many millions.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Neither his mother nor any of Bodden’s family or friends replied to a request for comment for this story.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Those tasks can include labeling the contents of images, answering questions, or rating which of two chatbots’ answers are better, in order to teach AI systems to better comply with human preferences.
    Billy Perrigo, Time, 12 June 2025
  • What To Know Hegseth was answering questions from the committee looking at the Pentagon's budget for 2026, which included discussions around the United States' roles in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Riposte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riposte. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on riposte

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!