1
2
as in response
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 to respond
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
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
Kyle Wilson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
The Democratic retort to Trump’s speech will test a party split on a larger strategy for how to confront the President.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
That led Chair Mike Lee to retort that the documents arrived at 5:40pm yesterday and that the committee office was open until 6pm.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retort
Noun
The issue extends to Mio, too, whose quips or poorly timed retorts to Zoe’s dialogue don’t really align with her generally apathetic persona.
—Kyle Wilson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025
The Democratic retort to Trump’s speech will test a party split on a larger strategy for how to confront the President.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
That led Chair Mike Lee to retort that the documents arrived at 5:40pmyesterday and that the committee office was open until 6pm.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
That led Chair Mike Lee to retort that the documents arrived at 5:40pm yesterday and that the committee office was open until 6pm.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
Noun
-
All such theories, however, have appeared to be unreliable and speculative since any first strikes would have to contend with the risk of an enemy launch on warning as well as sufficient systems surviving for a devastating riposte.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Less than two minutes later, Isak delivered his usual riposte.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In response to questions from Jackson, Nuttall agreed that injuries to O'Keefe's face could have been caused by a punch to the face.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
As for what is next, the Trump administration is likely to respond to the Supreme Court in response to its rare Saturday morning order.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Humans, on the other hand, are quick to respond to Tyrion.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Image Image Image Many volunteers made enormous personal sacrifices to respond to the crisis.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
-
But some Republican registrars took them as an insult, and at least one, Lisa Amatruda of Woodbury, walked out.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The observatory, which is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is designed to scrutinize the solar atmosphere and the sun's magnetic field for tiny features that might reveal answers to some of the fundamental solar mysteries.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
When the Fire Nation attacked Wang and colleagues radiocarbon dated the stumps’ outermost rings to find out when the trees had stopped growing, and the answer is around 2,100 years ago (give or take about 70 years).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Engage in conversations by replying to comments, livestreaming, answering audience queries in messages, creating broadcast channels and participating in relevant discussions.—
Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Ally and Jay are both sarcastic, too — their best lines are muttered under their breaths — and their repartee becomes more interesting than the bloody theatrics.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the pundits’ predictions, early polling has shown Harris is widely favored to make a comeback after losing to Trump in November.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Felix reveals Williams' candidness about a difficult pregnancy and return to competition inspired her own comeback story.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share