to retort
- verb
- /rɪˈtɔrt/
- When his friend teased him about his old car, he quickly retorted, "At least it still runs!"
Then they asked why were you screaming fire Then Shankaran Tula retorted.
- Then they asked why were you screaming fire Then Shankaran Tula retorted.
- And I think all these people that I sat down with expected me to kind of retort and, and have somewhat of a contentious dialogue.
- So she says the assumptions stated in the first sentence of this question are simply wrong, which means I can't answer, but can only retort with questions.
- But OK, so which my I retort, what if, what if he proved that actually, you know, everything can be proved.
Examples
-
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services retorted that most delays were the fault of the NHS.
Academic text (2011) -
"Then my wife is poor white trash," retorted another committee member.
Academic text (2007) -
Then you retort with a positive mental attitude.
-
Oh, well, allow me to retort.
-
"Save it for the paying customers," she retorted, but a hint of a smile touched her face.
Fiction book (1992) -
To my fuzzy question, "What are the youth doing today?" he retorted immediately, "They are all leaving!"
Academic text (1990) -
The free-market liberals, of course, retort that such a system will overwhelm the economy and stop change.
Academic text (1990) -
"I don't disagree, Mrs. Hobson," Mr. Johnson retorted, "but the economic facts still remain."
Fiction book (1993) -
"Are you always so filled with anger?" Drizzt retorted, and his accusing words calmed Catti-brie immediately.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Get yerself to Settlestone, then," Catti-brie retorted, poking a finger into Wulfgar's massive chest.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
To reply to a question or request
To say or do something as an answer to what someone says
To reply quickly and strongly to a remark
Reply rudely to someone in charge like a teacher or boss
To answer quickly in a sharp, angry way
Answer a person in charge in a rude, cheeky way
Answer a remark quickly in a clever or sharp way
To reply loudly and angrily to someone who insults you
To reply quickly and sharply in speech or as a counterattack
How Sharp
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word retort as a verb comes from Latin re- 'back' and torquere 'to twist', literally 'to twist back'. So to retort is to 'twist back' someone's words by replying quickly and sharply.