an act or instance of parrying, as in fencing.
a defensive movement in fencing.
Milman, 1902–35, U.S. classical scholar and philologist.
William Edward, 1790–1855, English Arctic explorer.
to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing
(tr) to evade (questions), esp adroitly
an act of parrying, esp (in fencing) using a stroke or circular motion of the blade
a skilful evasion, as of a question
Sir ( Charles ) Hubert ( Hastings ). 1848–1918, English composer, noted esp for his choral works
Sir William Edward. 1790–1855, English arctic explorer, who searched for the Northwest Passage (1819–25) and attempted to reach the North Pole (1827)
1665–75; < French parez, imperative of parer to ward off, set off < Latin parāre to set. See parade
Sword fighters thrust and parry. To thrust is to try to stab, and to parry is to avoid getting stabbed by blocking a thrust. Though it comes from fencing, parry is also handy in dodgeball and awkward conversations The word parry means to block or evade a movement, like in fencing, but it can also refer to an evasion that is verbal rather than physical. If someone asks you who you have a crush on, but you don’t want to answer, parry the question — change the subject or ask a question in return. When used in this way parry retains its sense of defending yourself through evasion.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’m not sure the financial industry can continue to parry this away without giving something up,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026
The visitors then took the lead five minutes later as Centonze pounced on weak parry by Geronimo Rulli to open the scoring from close range.
From Barron's ● Jan. 4, 2026
The precocious girls soon cotton on to the headmistress’s ruse and parry her appeals to dish on Miss Brodie.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025
The first goal saw Bayindir, given a chance in the cup over usual number one Andre Onana, parry Pedro Porro's 25-yard shot straight to Dominic Solanke to slot in.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2024
This time, after a parry, the foil tip touches me, left lower side.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Chris Parry closed Lewis School in Pengam for two days during the heatwave to "prioritise pupil safety"
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Parry noted that many businesses also closed during the heatwave and said young people should understand workplace responsibilities.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Parry said parents were "really supportive" and pupils were given advice to stay safe and comfortable at home.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
"Well, there's some regret," jokes Tim Parry from Essex.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
It was accompanied by John Parry, late of the Royal Marines, a professional explorer.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
There are bracelets, for instance, that one can acquire that can greatly simplify action, allowing players to better time their parries, or turning complex moves into simple one-button presses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
From there, the story emboldens itself from relatable online stalking to ludicrous plot twists, both of which Reid parries with confidence.
From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2023
The two players traded taunts and parries, their lines racing around each other like a pair of squirrels.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 24, 2022
This crisis has unfolded as a complex mosaic of moves and counter-moves, feints and bluffs, lunges and parries of counterintelligence and disinformation.
From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2022
She parries my first series of blows with some effort, but her muscles remember technique.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
The sequence started with Pedro Porro sending a cross into the box for Dani Olmo, whose shot was parried away by Courtois.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
With his team trailing 1-0, he placed his shot low to the goalkeeper’s left, only to see his attempt parried away like a beachball.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Their defence was unlocked again when Chasity Grant raced behind Liverpool's backline and played in Kirsty Hanson, while Daly added a third when she pounced on a parried save by Kirby.
From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2025
Just six minutes had been played on an unseasonable chilly night in Soweto when Tshepang Moremi scored the lone goal, firing into the net after Kenyan goalkeeper Brian Bwire parried a cross.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
She stabbed and parried with her right hand, occasionally shooting tomatoes from the cornucopia in her left, while yelling at the suitors, ‘Save yourselves! I’m too dangerous!’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Unlike commercial antibiotics, phages evolve alongside their bacterial hosts, dodging and parrying the bacterial response so that for every pathogen, there’s likely a bacteriophage, somewhere, that eats it.
From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2024
Upon entering a cavernous room, its barely lit cobblestones reflecting a sickly green, you are charged by a towering beast that can be overcome only through a punishing sequence of precise dodges and parrying.
From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2024
Sels kept Strasbourg in the game by parrying a powerful strike from Lionel Messi in the 89th.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
In “Sifu,” as has been the trend since the “Dark Souls” games have risen in popularity, a key strategy is to put a large emphasis on defense and parrying moves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2022
He allowed my brother to gain an advantage, then reversed their positions by parrying his thrusts.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
