verb / noun

parry

PAIR-ee/ˈpæri/

warding off a physical or verbal attack

The fencer parries the thrust and steps back into position.

Two modern fencers in full masks and padded jackets; defender turns the opponent’s incoming foil aside with a clear blade-on-blade parry, no injury or glowing sparks.

Etymology

French parer describes warding off a weapon's blow. Parrying a question or criticism extends that fencing action to words: the attack is turned aside rather than allowed to land.

In context

Ion Books409:07

they can raise no shield,--from which they can retire into no fortress,--in which they can parry no blow.

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope - Part 1/3 | Full Audiobook with Scrolling Text

More examples

A quick parry keeps the blade away from her chest.
She parries his criticism with a calm explanation.
His witty parry draws laughter and ends the argument.

Forms

parry · parries · parried · parrying

Similar words

deflect: Emphasizes redirecting something and need not involve an attack.
block: Emphasizes stopping an attack rather than turning it aside.