Illustration of retort
- 3retort
retorted; retorting; retorts
1
: to pay or hurl back : return
retort an insult
2
a
: to make a reply to
b
: to say in reply
3
: to answer (an argument) by a counter argument
1
: to answer back usually sharply
2
: to return an argument or charge
3
: a quick, witty, or cutting reply
especially
: one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words
: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
retorted; retorting; retorts
: to treat (something, such as oil shale) by heating in a retort
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
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retort. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retort
1 of 3 verb
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
1
: to answer back : reply angrily or sharply
2
: to reply to an argument with an opposing argument
retort
2 of 3 noun
: a quick, witty, or angry reply
retort
3 of 3 noun
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt
ˈrē-ˌtȯ(ə)rt
: 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
Medical Definition
retort
noun
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt
ˈrē-ˌ
ˈrē-ˌ
: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
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