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
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
Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 21 May 2025
Boro’s fanbase will retort that there has been more than one of those lately.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Wait a second, the retort goes, the old-time adage is that to the victor go the spoils.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retort
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Verb
Prosecutors retorted by pointing out Hughes was also hired before by members of the defense.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 21 May 2025
Boro’s fanbase will retort that there has been more than one of those lately.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
The play found its voice through the Broadway developmental process, and Metcalf’s imprint is unmistakable in the rhythms of Nora’s whirligig monologues and bracing retorts.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Wait a second, the retort goes, the old-time adage is that to the victor go the spoils.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retort
Cite this Entry
“Retort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retort. Accessed 5 Jun. 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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