riposte 1 of 2

Definition of ripostenext
as in retort
a quick witty response he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult

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riposte

2 of 2

verb

as in to respond
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction at cocktail parties she could riposte with lightning speed to even the most unexpected quip

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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 riposte
Noun
Olivia Colman matches salty ripostes with aching vulnerability as Fisherwoman, who’s ostracized for her independence in a medieval village where every citizen is known only by their profession. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026 Larkin tried to come up with a witty riposte but came up empty. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
Some enemy attacks can only be dodged, while parrying others gives you the opportunity to riposte. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riposte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riposte
Noun
  • That threat drew a sharp retort from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
    Andrew Muhammad, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
  • This prompted a retort from Williams.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • The day before, the forest service responded to eight wildfire requests covering roughly 24,700 acres on Thursday.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 16 May 2026
  • Coroner Tania Zech responded to the scene to investigate and certify the death, and the Hicks family has been identified, the press release said.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • The White House, the office of the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA did not reply to questions about Cuban drones.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
  • Just three people have replied to the post.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Slot is a good communicator who tries to properly answer every question, slipping in the occasional attempt at humour.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • Maybe that’s the point, but Sorogoyen leaves that question hanging in the balance and with us too detached at this point to care about answering it.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Riposte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riposte. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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