zinger
[ zing-er ]
/ ˈzɪŋ ər /
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.
RELATED WORDS
assault, injury, attack, innuendo, accusation, put-down, smear, quip, one-liner, witticism, gag, prank, joke, wisecrack, blow, bat, shot, punch, swing
Nearby words
- zineb,
- zinfandel,
- zing,
- zingara,
- zingaro,
- zingiberaceous,
- zingy,
- zinjanthropus,
- zinkenite,
- zinn's membrane
Origin of zinger
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for zinger
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|DAILY BEASTThe zinger that never came was: “What other insider trading do you suspect David Sokol might have done?”
Naturally, Kimmel used the opportunity to fire off a zinger about Leno's refusing to give up his show to O'Brien.
She chuckles to herself, the way she frequently does after spitting out a zinger; a kind of personal touché.
zinger
"cruel quip," 1970, from zing + -er (1). Earlier it was baseball slang for "fastball" (by 1957).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper