noun

retort

rih-TAWT

noun

A sharp, witty, or cutting reply, especially one that turns an insult back on the person who made it.

"Her retort left him speechless."

""At least I have a job," was his quick retort."

A long-necked glass flask used in chemistry, or a sealed vessel used in industry for heating materials at high temperatures.

"The chemist heated the mixture in a glass retort."

"The plant uses large metal retorts to smelt the ore."

verb

To answer sharply or wittily, especially by turning the original remark back on the speaker.

""I could say the same about you," she retorted."

"He retorted that it was none of her business."

How to Use Retort

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sharp comeback in speech, or a special flask/vessel used for heating things in chemistry and industry.

Common pairings

a witty retort retort sharply a glass retort

retorted past tense, retorted past tense, retorts plural, retorts plural, retorts singular, retorts singular

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Her _____ left him speechless.

From Latin retorquere, "to twist back" — the flask was named for its bent neck.