retort

Meaning

Noun

A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.

Verb

1. To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
2. To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.
3. To bend or curve back.
4. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

Verb

To heat in a retort.

Synonyms

reply

answer

rejoinder

riposte

respond

rejoin

response

return

counter

rebuttal

alembic

⚗️

comeback

come back

answer back

cue

still

retort-shaped

crackdown

flask

refute

replica

counterattack

distil

objection

argue

key

🔑

repartee

repay

reaction

replication

confute

interrupt

refutation

bulb

💡

reverberate

shot

slice into

smack

snap

snap back

solitary

squelch

stilling

strike back

sublimate

test tube

🧪

whip

wittiness

back talk

hit back

shout at

slice through

turn the tables

boil-in-the-bag

talking back

asking in return

distillatory

answer suddenly

pot still

contradictory speech

accuse

distillation retort

arrow

backtalk

beaker

blurt out

bottle

come-back

contradiction

countercharge

cross-examination

cut

cut in

debate

dispute

distillation

do over

echo

evaporator

fight back

lash

occur

pitcher

quip

react

rebuff

rebuke

rebut

recriminate

recrimination

remark

repose

reprisal

reproach

retaliation

Hyphenated as

re‧tort

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈtɔɹt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: retorte

In summary

From Middle English retorte, from Latin retortus, from retorquēre (“to be forced to twist back”).