riposte

noun

ri·poste ri-ˈpōst

Synonyms of riposte

: a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry

: a retaliatory verbal sally : retort

: a retaliatory maneuver or measure

riposte verb

Did you know?

In the sport of fencing, a riposte is a counterattack made after successfully fending off one's opponent. English speakers borrowed the name for this particular maneuver from French in the early 1700s, but the French had simply modified the Italian word risposta, which literally means "answer." Ultimately these words come from the Latin verb respondēre, meaning "to respond." It seems fitting that riposte has since come full circle to now refer to a quick and witty response performed as a form of retaliation.

Examples of riposte in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

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This seemed to be a function of its light weight and thinness, a riposte to the ubiquitous Michelin Man-esque puffer. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025 The book might be considered a riposte to both right-wing and left-wing historiography in India; right-wing historians make fantastic claims that cloak India’s real and substantial achievements, while those on the left prioritize social history in a way that displaces intellectual achievement. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 China's export controls on strategic metals, a riposte to President Donald Trump's tariff hike, are being seen less as an economic blow and more as a warning shot to bring the United States to the negotiating table. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Many saw the 40-year-old's base salary as a direct riposte to Verlander, who was Scherzer's teammate with the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for riposte