noun / verb
riposte
rih-POHST/rɪˈpəʊst/
A swift answering attack.
The quick riposte catches the colleague off guard.
Etymology
“Back” and “pledge” formed the idea of promising in return, hence answering. A riposte was a fencing answer—a thrust after parrying—before becoming a sharp verbal counterstroke.
More examples
- She parries his blade and ripostes before he can recover.
- He riposted with a thrust to his opponent's chest.
- Her sharp riposte turns his criticism back on him.
Forms
riposte · ripostes · riposted · riposting
Similar words
- counterattack
- Can be prolonged or delayed, unlike a swift riposte.
- counterstroke
- An answering blow, without necessarily following a successful defense.