Synonyms of riposte

riposte 1 of 2

noun

ri-ˈpōst 

as in retort

a quick witty response

he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retort
• insult
• repartee
• comeback
• witticism
• quip
• squelch
• wisecrack
• zinger
• back talk
• sally
• put-down
• cut
• crack

riposte

2 of 2

verb

as in to respond

to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction

at cocktail parties she could riposte with lightning speed to even the most unexpected quip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• respond
• reply
• answer
• retort
• react
• comment
• return
• come back
• remark
• rejoin
• acknowledge
• explain
• counter
• correspond
• communicate
• defend
• refute
• deny
• rebut
• field

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ask
• question
• inquire
• challenge
• examine
• interrogate
• pump
• survey
• query
• quiz
• grill
• cross-examine
• poll

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of riposte

Noun

Inside, the house reads less as a monument to excess than a deft riposte to the cold minimalism of decades past. — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, Carr posted a riposte to a commenter on X who took aim at the FCC chief. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026

Verb

Some enemy attacks can only be dodged, while parrying others gives you the opportunity to riposte. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

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