answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.
had answers to all their questions
response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.
a response to the call for recruits
reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.
a point-by-point reply to the accusation
rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.
a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument
retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.
she made a cutting retort to her critics
Examples of retort in a Sentence
Verb (1)
when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, "Fine, I didn't want it anyway!" Noun (1)
she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience
the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort
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Verb
Trump demanded $500 billion in Ukraine's minerals as repayment for U.S. assistance, but Zelenskyy retorted that American aid hasn't come close to that enormous figure.—Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 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
Noun
The next day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz began his speech to the conference with a retort to Vance.—Massimo Calabresi/dachau, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025 Known for his own sense of humor, Obama dismisses Edwards’ retort, pointing out that the shooting guard has multiple players of similar size as Embiid, making his point null and void.—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retort
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1
Noun (2)
Middle French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin, feminine of retortus; from its shape
: a container in which substances are distilled or broken down by heat
Etymology
Verb
from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally "to twist back, hurl back," from re- "back, again" and torquēre "to twist" — related to distort, extort, torture
Noun
from early French retorte "a vessel in which substances are distilled," derived from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre "to twist"; probably so called from its shape
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