RETORTS Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

retorts 1 of 2

noun

plural of retort

as in insults

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

as in responses

something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

retorts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of retort

as in replies

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!"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 retorts

Noun

Her son is a carbon copy of his dad — looks like him and acts like him, particularly with his funny comments, comebacks and retorts. — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026 Our minds generate sharp retorts or zingers that would eviscerate or humiliate them. — Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Reached by phone for comment, David Pimm, the president of the Bohemian National Cemetery Association, said two of the cemetery’s three retorts, or furnaces, were not working due to an electrical fire. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 But retorts in this arena could carry significant consequences. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 28 July 2026 LeBron James didn’t hold back from his retorts over his late-in-the-game elbow injury Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026 The hearing also lacked contentious partisan moments, but there were some sharp retorts. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026 Affleck's Will retorts as a wink to David Schwimmer's line as Ross Geller to Aniston's Rachel Green on Friends. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026 The Moon is at odds with three planets, which can trigger arguments, snide remarks and even cruel retorts. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026

Verb

But the ambassador retorts with evasion, keeping the language cryptic. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026 Olga retorts that his bird’s-eye analysis is a clever way of doing nothing. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025 In theory, Thune has an open-door policy and frequently retorts that Schumer has his cellphone number or can make the short walk to his office. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retorts

Noun

In a round robin of insults, Proto blasted the incumbent Democratic senator who first won election in 2022.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
But even with such attitudinal strides, Pew Research shows that people’s fears about AI’s societal impact are high, and digital choirs hurl insults at any project featuring the tech.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of insults

Noun

Their usefulness will depend on reliable navigation, robust fault responses and effective coordination between onboard systems.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Their responses were not edited and are in the candidates’ own words.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of responses

Verb

The automation should end when the customer replies, books, declines, becomes unqualified or needs a decision from a person.

— Michael Fox, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The video then shows Duff taking off her earpiece and saying something to her bandmate, who replies with an unsure gesture.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Definition of replies

Noun

They are discovered well beyond the bounds of the strategic map, where the winds shift, the old answers sink, and the pilot must find the way by dead reckoning.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Its filler entries are also quite chewy and enjoyable — a lot of short clues for long answers, especially running down.

— Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of answers

Verb

The next step in capturing electrons in action The achievement could help researchers study how electrons behave in atoms and molecules, including how matter responds to intense X-ray illumination.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
An agent reads a ticket, retrieves a document, queries a database, calls a tool, maybe hands off to a second agent, and only then responds.

— Osman Koc, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of responds

Browse Nearby Words

retorting

retorts

retouch

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Style

“Retorts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retorts. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of retorts

noun

verb

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