Illustration of retort
- 3retort
retorted; retorting; retorts
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
1
: to answer back usually sharply
2
: to return an argument or charge
3
: a quick, witty, or cutting reply
especially
: one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words
: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
retorted; retorting; retorts
: to treat (something, such as oil shale) by heating in a retort
Synonyms
Examples of retort in a Sentence
Verb (1)
when told she couldn't have it, she retorted, "Fine, I didn't want it anyway!"
Noun (1)
she responded to the heckler with a scathing but hilarious retort that instantly won over the audience
the salesclerk responded to my query about the price with a brusque retort
Recent Examples on the Web
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Daniel Boland last April launched a convoluted, two-pronged process, garnering headlines and an angry retort from the mayor, which apparently has fizzled out.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
The phrase is catchy but focused on what was without a clear path to what can be unburdened by what has been, as Kamala Harris famously retorts.
—Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retort 
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Noun
Sweeney’s cast — there are excellent turns from Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale, Speak No Evil) and Abbott Elementary’s Chris Perfetti — deploy their witty retorts, bleak sentiments and existential worries at a bracing and confident clip.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Daniel Boland last April launched a convoluted, two-pronged process, garnering headlines and an angry retort from the mayor, which apparently has fizzled out.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
That led Chair Mike Lee to retort that the documents arrived at 5:40pmyesterday and that the committee office was open until 6pm.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
The phrase is catchy but focused on what was without a clear path to what can be unburdened by what has been, as Kamala Harris famously retorts.
—Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retort
Dictionary Entries Near retort
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retort. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retort
1 of 3 verb
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt 
1
: to answer back : reply angrily or sharply
2
: to reply to an argument with an opposing argument
retort
2 of 3 noun
: a quick, witty, or angry reply
retort
3 of 3 noun
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt
ˈrē-ˌtȯ(ə)rt
: a container in which substances are distilled or broken down by heat
Etymology
Verb
from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally "to twist back, hurl back," from re- "back, again" and torquēre "to twist" — related to distort, extort, torture
Noun
from early French retorte "a vessel in which substances are distilled," derived from Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre "to twist"; probably so called from its shape
Medical Definition
retort
noun
re·tort
ri-ˈtȯ(ə)rt
ˈrē-ˌ
ˈrē-ˌ
: a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
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