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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
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Recent Examples of retort
Beren Cross, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Sweeney’s cast — there are excellent turns from Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale, Speak No Evil) and Abbott Elementary’s Chris Perfetti — deploy their witty retorts, bleak sentiments and existential worries at a bracing and confident clip.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
Its many apologists in the media quickly retorted with their usual refrain: Where is the evidence?
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2015
See All Example Sentences for retort
Noun
As responses go, this was as resounding as Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope retort during The Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman.
—Verb
Marcos had retorted that Duterte was a user of fentanyl, a painkiller and powerful opioid.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
Noun
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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.—
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Night Temple is one small riposte to all that, from local artists no longer miserably waiting for the tides to turn.—
Noun
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Commercial pilot and licensed psychotherapist shares words of encouragement after recent plane crashes Michaela Renee Johnson says fear is a natural response to seeing the recent aviation disasters — and shares her thoughts on how people can ultimately tackle their fear.—
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The response bodes well for the picture’s upcoming release in China on March 8, which is International Women’s Day, on some 1,000 screens, which Qu says is wide for an independent, elevated arthouse production.—
Verb
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If the government either denies the claims or does not respond, Clifford said the family can file lawsuits in federal court.—
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The Oxford Center did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital.—
Noun
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During the interview, McEnany spoke openly about being compared, as an insult, to the character of Pat, because of her gender expression.—
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Finally, Smith reiterated that no insult was directed at Williams.—
Noun
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Or maybe, with a few more games from Steeves, the answer to a question that’s frustrated the Maple Leafs all season — that of a lack of secondary scoring — could emerge as well.—
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In the tunnel vision of his crisis, this meager amount seemed like the answer.—
Verb
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Other posters replied by mocking Rogan for his association with Musk, who’s appeared on his podcast multiple times.—
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Dylan Kraemer, who had already taken the stand, replied fast.—
Noun
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For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.—
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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.—
Noun
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The Warriors wing almost made an epic comeback but fell just short in his final rack.—
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Rebecca Smiley is proof that travel agents are making a comeback, and young people are driving demand.—
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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