retort

1 of 4

verb (1)

re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt How to pronounce retort (audio)

retorted; retorting; retorts

transitive verb

: to pay or hurl back : return

retort an insult

: to make a reply to

: to say in reply

: to answer (an argument) by a counter argument

intransitive verb

: to answer back usually sharply

: to return an argument or charge

: retaliate

retort

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a quick, witty, or cutting reply

especially : one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words

retort

3 of 4

noun (2)

re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt How to pronounce retort (audio)

ˈrē-ˌtȯrt

: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

retort

4 of 4

verb (2)

re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt How to pronounce retort (audio)

ˈrē-ˌtȯrt

retorted; retorting; retorts

transitive verb

: to treat (something, such as oil shale) by heating in a retort

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin, feminine of retortus; from its shape

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1505, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1527, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1850, in the meaning defined above

retort 1 of 2

noun

as in riposte

a quick witty response she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

riposte
insult
repartee
comeback
wisecrack
quip
zinger
witticism
squelch
back talk
put-down
sally
cut
crack

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

response
answer
reply
rejoinder
reaction
return
remark
comeback
banter
rebuttal
observation
repartee
comment
refutation
replication
feedback
justification
explanation
non sequitur
communication
persiflage
back talk
acknowledgment
acknowledgement
defense
plea
correspondence

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

question
inquiry
query
interrogatory
interrogation
challenge
charge
grilling
survey
quiz
poll
cross-examination
questionnaire

retort

2 of 2

verb

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

respond
reply
answer
riposte
react
comment
remark
come back
return
rejoin
counter
acknowledge
explain
field
communicate
correspond
defend
refute
rebut
deny

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

question
ask
inquire
challenge
interrogate
pump
examine
grill
query
quiz
survey
poll
cross-examine

Synonym Chooser

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

While the synonyms answer and retort are close in meaning, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

Although the words rejoinder and retort have much in common, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

The synonyms reply and retort are sometimes interchangeable, but reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

While in some cases nearly identical to retort, 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

单词	retort
释义	retort 1 of 4 verb (1) re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt retorted; retorting; retorts transitive verb 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 intransitive verb 1 : to answer back usually sharply 2 : to return an argument or charge 3 : retaliate retort 2 of 4 noun (1) : a quick, witty, or cutting reply especially : one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words retort 3 of 4 noun (2) re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt ˈrē-ˌtȯrt : a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat Illustration of retort ³retort retort 4 of 4 verb (2) re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt ˈrē-ˌtȯrt retorted; retorting; retorts transitive verb : to treat (something, such as oil shale) by heating in a retort Synonyms Verb (1) answer come back rejoin reply respond return riposte Noun (1) comeback repartee riposte See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Verb (1) Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1 Noun (2) Middle French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin, feminine of retortus; from its shape First Known Use Verb (1) circa 1505, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (1) 1610, in the meaning defined above Noun (2) 1527, in the meaning defined above Verb (2) 1850, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing retort retort pouch retort pouch Kids Definition retort 1 of 2 verb re·tort ri-ˈtȯrt retorted; retorting 1 : to reply usually angrily or sharply 2 : to reply with an argument against When Mom objected to ice cream as unhealthy, I retorted that it contained milk. retort 2 of 2 noun : a quick, clever, or angry reply Medical Definition retort noun re·tort ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt ˈrē-ˌ : a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat retort 1 of 2 noun 1 as in riposte a quick witty response she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance riposte insult repartee comeback wisecrack quip zinger witticism squelch back talk put-down sally cut crack 2 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 response answer reply rejoinder reaction return remark comeback banter rebuttal observation repartee comment refutation replication feedback justification explanation non sequitur communication persiflage back talk acknowledgment acknowledgement defense plea correspondence Antonyms & Near Antonyms question inquiry query interrogatory interrogation challenge charge grilling survey quiz poll cross-examination questionnaire See More retort 2 of 2 verb 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 respond reply answer riposte react comment remark come back return rejoin counter acknowledge explain field communicate correspond defend refute rebut deny Antonyms & Near Antonyms question ask inquire challenge interrogate pump examine grill query quiz survey poll cross-examine See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of retort are answer, rejoinder, reply, and response. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," 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 While the synonyms answer and retort are close in meaning, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need. had answers to all their questions Although the words rejoinder and retort have much in common, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection. a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument The synonyms reply and retort are sometimes interchangeable, but reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised. a point-by-point reply to the accusation While in some cases nearly identical to retort, 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
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retort

verb (1)

noun (1)

noun (2)

Illustration of retort

verb (2)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing retort

Kids Definition

verb

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser