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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of retort
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
21 May 2026
That threat drew a sharp retort from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
—
Andrew Muhammad,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Andre retorted with mock indignation to a laugh from the audience.
—
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retort
Noun
Don’t take the bait if someone challenges you or makes a nasty retort.
—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
21 May 2026
That threat drew a sharp retort from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
—
Andrew Muhammad,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Verb
Hellerstein retorted in one exchange with the prosecutor, questioning how the Maduros’ ability to pay their lawyers had any bearing on national security.
—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Andre retorted with mock indignation to a laugh from the audience.
—
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
Noun
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Inside, the house reads less as a monument to excess than a deft riposte to the cold minimalism of decades past.
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Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, Carr posted a riposte to a commenter on X who took aim at the FCC chief.
Noun
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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.
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Their desperation comes as the Venezuelan government faces mounting criticism over its response to the crisis.
Verb
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will honor its commitments if the US does the same, while warning that Tehran will respond firmly to threats.
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The suit did not specify what drug was involved, but said responding officers and paramedics gave the teen who sued multiple doses of Narcan, which is used to reverse overdoses caused by opioids such as fentanyl.
Noun
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According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored a first-half goal and Cape Verde had an answer, taking the round of 32 matchup to extra time.
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Sherman didn’t give a definite answer to that but expects the Marlins to compete regardless.
Verb
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Arie also replied to a post calling for a boycott of the song.
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An attorney for his company, America First Refining, replied to us with a letter dated June 24 that the attorney sent to Hostinger.
Noun
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To be sure, Maher’s ready wit and spontaneous repartee as a talk show host were central themes for the parade of chums who praised the honoree.
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The two-minute trailer includes a recreation of the famous sailor-kissing-a-nurse photo from V-J Day, a woman insulting David’s butter churning, some trench warfare repartee about the looks of a soldier’s love back at home, the Boston Tea Party, and jokes about child labor.
Noun
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Belgium also won in the round of 32 on Wednesday behind an improbable comeback over Senegal.
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Over on the Top Alternative Albums ranking, Deftones once again score the most impressive comeback.
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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