REJOINDER Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'rejoinder' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rejoinder are answer , reply , response , and retort . While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection. // a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

Q: Where would 'answer' be a reasonable alternative to 'rejoinder'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rejoinder , answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need. // had answers to all their questions

Q: When is 'reply' a more appropriate choice than 'rejoinder'?

The meanings of reply and rejoinder largely overlap; however, reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised. // a point-by-point reply to the accusation

Q: When could 'response' be used to replace 'rejoinder'?

The words response and rejoinder can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: When can 'retort' be used instead of 'rejoinder'?

The synonyms retort and rejoinder are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

rejoinder

noun

ri-ˈjȯin-dər

Definition of rejoinder next

as in response

something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question he always has a smart-aleck rejoinder to everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rejoinder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rejoinder are answer, reply, response, and retort. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

Where would answer be a reasonable alternative to rejoinder?

While in some cases nearly identical to rejoinder, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

When is reply a more appropriate choice than rejoinder?

The meanings of reply and rejoinder largely overlap; however, reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

When could response be used to replace rejoinder?

The words response and rejoinder can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When can retort be used instead of rejoinder?

The synonyms retort and rejoinder are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

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 rejoinder His Joe is a real cynic, with demons in his closet; his rejoinders come from a tough place. —

Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 May 2026 The videos are an unsubtle rejoinder to the West Coast ruler status Lamar flaunted on GNX. —

Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 May 2026 The film’s considerable artistry, of course, is its own rejoinder. —

Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026 But in the end, Kentucky’s state legislature overrode those vetoes, meaning his pen carried a performative rejection, not a policy rejoinder. —

Philip Elliott, Time, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rejoinder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rejoinder

Noun

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department seeking clarification about an apparent discrepancy in its announcement regarding the age of one of the alleged trafficking victims and will update this story if a response is received.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Their desperation comes as the Venezuelan government faces mounting criticism over its response to the crisis.

— Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Definition of response

Noun

When asked specifically about religion, the models provide neutral, respectful replies, Wingate said.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Offices begin thinning out by Thursday, grills run through the weekend, and by Tuesday morning the out-of-office replies come down and the machine restarts.

— Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of reply

Browse Nearby Words

rejoin

rejoinder

rejoinders

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rejoinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rejoinder. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rejoinder

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rejoinder

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes