Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
retort
verb and noun
/rɪˈtɔrt/
Definition
A quick, witty, and often sharp response to a comment or argument.
Examples
- When asked why he was late, he made a retort about the traffic being terrible.
- Her sharp retort surprised everyone in the meeting.
Meaning
To retort means to answer back, often with a clever or pointed reply. It suggests a comeback that is clever and sometimes stinging.
Synonyms
- reply
- comeback
- rejoinder
- counter
- response
