zinger

[zing-er]

See more synonyms for zinger on Thesaurus.com

noun Informal.

a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort: During the debate she made a couple of zingers that deflated the opposition.
a surprise, shock, or piece of electrifying news: The president's resignation was a real zinger.
a person or thing that has vitality or animation or produces startling results.

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Origin of zinger

First recorded in 1950–55; zing + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for zinger

Contemporary Examples

Romney must have been anticipating the sentimental gesture, though, because it prompted his first zinger of the night.
WATCH VIDEO: Best Moments From the First Presidential Debate
Jake Heller, Ben Teitelbaum
October 4, 2012
The zinger that never came was: “What other insider trading do you suspect David Sokol might have done?”
Buffett's Damage Control
Allan Dodds Frank
May 1, 2011
Naturally, Kimmel used the opportunity to fire off a zinger about Leno's refusing to give up his show to O'Brien.
Comedians Laugh as Leno Sinks
Gina Piccalo
October 24, 2010
She chuckles to herself, the way she frequently does after spitting out a zinger; a kind of personal touché.
The Real Joan Rivers
Nicole LaPorte
January 26, 2010

Word Origin and History for zinger

n.

"cruel quip," 1970, from zing + -er (1). Earlier it was baseball slang for "fastball" (by 1957).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper