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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
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Recent Examples of retort
Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
As responses go, this was as resounding as Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope retort during The Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman.
—Beren Cross, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
And, Yancy’s whole walkthrough of Stoney’s is absolutely disgusting, but his breathless retorts to all of the proprietor’s protests are comedy gold.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for retort
Noun
The governor, through his personal account, has offered retorts to a host of claims about his governance from popular and little-known Republicans.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
As responses go, this was as resounding as Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope retort during The Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman.
—Beren Cross, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
Dodger defenders retorted that (a) the team has done nothing untoward, (b) this is just smart business, and (c) this type of deal structure is available to all of the other 29 teams.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
And, Yancy’s whole walkthrough of Stoney’s is absolutely disgusting, but his breathless retorts to all of the proprietor’s protests are comedy gold.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for retort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retort
Noun
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Many saw the 40-year-old's base salary as a direct riposte to Verlander, who was Scherzer's teammate with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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Night Temple is one small riposte to all that, from local artists no longer miserably waiting for the tides to turn.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Immigration advocates are calling for stronger protections under the Trust Act in response to President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and the creation of a registry requiring those immigrants to self-register or could face prosecution.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
6 Mar. 2025
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Newsom’s office cited the arguments laid out in the executive order in response to questions about the political timing of this decision.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His remains were discovered in the debris after officers responded to the explosion around 4:52 p.m. Feb. 15 in the 2200 block of Central Avenue, police said.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Many of the owners who responded said the increases were forcing them to consider relocating.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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During a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November 2023, Messi and Rodrygo exchanged insults.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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The jury found that on Aug. 19, after Stanford revoked her access, Mangi logged into the study database and replaced patient medical data with erroneous information and insults about her former supervisor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The answers are meant to be filled out by a single person in one sitting, with no way to save responses for a break.—
Sheryl Gay Stolberg,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone, so be sure to check back with Newsweek daily for more hints, clues and answers.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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My films reply to each other and to repair each other.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
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According to the employee, Stefanski replied that the investigators had questioned him about the Jeep.—
Dave Altimari,
ProPublica,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Ally and Jay are both sarcastic, too — their best lines are muttered under their breaths — and their repartee becomes more interesting than the bloody theatrics.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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His remarkable political comeback is a testament to resilience and the will of the people.—
Imran Khan,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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Nothing follows Darkside’s 2021 comeback full-length, Spiral.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retort. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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