riposte

or ri·post

[ri-pohst]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR riposte ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult.

Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.

verb (used without object), ri·post·ed, ri·post·ing.

to make a riposte.

to reply or retaliate.

Origin of riposte

1700–10; < French, variant of risposte prompt answer < Italian risposta, noun use of feminine past participle of rispondere to answer < Vulgar Latin *respondere for Latin respondēre; see respond

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for riposte

maneuver, repartee, return, retort, thrust, reply

Examples from the Web for riposte

Contemporary Examples of riposte

To my liberal readers who are about to riposte that it's hard to imagine a GOP being harder right--oh no it's not!
Would a National Popular Vote Be Better?
Michael Tomasky
November 6, 2012
U.S. intelligence expects that the North would up the ante to every American riposte.
War Looms for Obama in Iran, Syria, and North Korea
Leslie H. Gelb
April 12, 2012
There were many amusing gaffes and Julia was always ready with a riposte.
She Taught Me to Cook—and Called Me a Klutz
Sandra McElwaine
August 6, 2009

Historical Examples of riposte

My attack had lured him, as I desired that it should, into making a riposte.
Bardelys the Magnificent
Rafael Sabatini
But he did not add that he had tried to deliver any riposte.
On the Stairs
Henry B. Fuller
May I venture to suggest to your Excellency that your riposte is more brilliant than safe?
Prisoners of Hope
Mary Johnston
I instantly replied by a riposte, but failed to catch him napping.
The Great Quest
Charles Boardman Hawes
Somehow, though, the riposte fell short of its expected result.
Rich Man, Poor Man
Maximilian Foster

British Dictionary definitions for riposte

riposte

ripost

noun

a swift sharp reply in speech or action

fencing a counterattack made immediately after a successful parry

verb

(intr) to make a riposte

Word Origin for riposte

C18: from French, from Italian risposta, from rispondere to reply, respond

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for riposte

1707, "a quick thrust after parrying a lunge," a fencing term, from French riposte, by dissimilation from risposte (17c.), from Italian risposta "a reply," noun use of fem. past participle of rispondere "to respond," from Latin respondere (see respond). Sense of "sharp retort; quick, sharp reply," is first attested 1865. As a verb, 1851.