riposte

Or ri·post

[ri-pohst]

noun

1. a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke.

   a brilliant riposte to an insult.

2. Fencing.,  a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.

verb (used without object)

riposted, riposting 

1. to make a riposte.

2. to reply or retaliate.

riposte

/ rɪˈpəʊst, rɪˈpɒst /

noun

1. a swift sharp reply in speech or action

2. fencing a counterattack made immediately after a successful parry

verb

1. (intr) to make a riposte

Word History and Origins

Origin of riposte¹

First recorded in 1700–10; from French, variant of risposte “prompt answer,” from Italian risposta, noun use of feminine past participle of rispondere “to answer,” from Vulgar Latin respondere (unrecorded) for Latin respondēre; respond

Word History and Origins

Origin of riposte¹

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

Example Sentences

As critic Gary Scharnhorst writes in an afterword to a recent edition of this classic: “The riposte to ‘it can’t happen here’ is ‘it already has.”

Read more on Salon

At a grassroots level, inspired by the reclamation of queer by the gay rights movement, B***h Magazine launched in 1996 in Portland, Oregon, as a feminist riposte to demeaning stereotypes.

Read more on Salon

So much has been said about the Old Firm's inability to break through their young players, but Clement has some decent ripostes to that criticism now.

Read more on BBC

One of the most hilarious ripostes to Nazism is still Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Night Temple is one small riposte to all that, from local artists no longer miserably waiting for the tides to turn.

Read more on Los Angeles Times