Antonyms for retort


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : ri-tawrt
Phonetic Transcription : rɪˈtɔrt


Definition of retort

Origin :
  • 1550s, "make return in kind" (especially of an injury), from Old French retort and directly from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquere "turn back, twist back, throw back," from re- "back" (see re-) + torquere "to twist" (see thwart). Applied to exchanges of jest or sarcasm by c.1600, hence "say or utter sharply and aggressively in reply" (1620s). Related: Retorted; retorting.
  • noun snappy answer
  • verb answer
Example sentences :
  • Her raillery, like the raillery of princes, was without fear of retort.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • Kirkwood's smile robbed the retort of any flavor of incivility.
  • Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
  • Mr Pecksniff was, as a matter of course, greatly entertained by this retort.
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
  • I dared not retort, but I looked so hard at his paunch that the General smiled.
  • Extract from : « The Cavalier » by George Washington Cable
  • Karl had not the subtlety to retort, “Ay, but does it say what we like?”
  • Extract from : « The First Violin » by Jessie Fothergill
  • "You're going to see one now," was all the retort Tom permitted himself.
  • Extract from : « Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout » by Victor Appleton
  • It was this play that drew forth from a woman, an American playwright, the retort stinging.
  • Extract from : « The Group » by Mercy Warren
  • But suppose that he were to retort, 'Thrasymachus, what do you mean?
  • Extract from : « The Republic » by Plato
  • But the moment it had subsided the derided one shot out his retort.
  • Extract from : « The Night Riders » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • But he did not retort; nor, to her surprise, did he raise his voice or order her off the premises.
  • Extract from : « Thankful's Inheritance » by Joseph C. Lincoln

Synonyms for retort

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019