# riposte

Pronunciation: say "ri-POHST" US /ɹɪˈpoʊst/, UK /ɹɪˈpəʊst/

## Noun

1. A quick and usually witty reply to a taunt or insult.
   - Simple: A quick, clever reply to a joke or insult.
   - _When the heckler shouted, she fired back a witty riposte that silenced the room._
   - _His riposte to the critic's jab was so sharp that the audience applauded._
2. An answer or reply uttered rapidly in response to a question or problem.
   - Simple: A fast answer given right after a question or problem.
   - _The lawyer's immediate riposte left the witness no time to think._
   - _Each riposte came so fast that the interviewer struggled to keep pace._
4. A thrust made in return immediately after parrying an opponent's attack.
   - Simple: A quick hit made right after blocking an attack in fencing.
   - _She parried the lunge and answered with a clean riposte to the chest._
   - _A well-timed riposte caught her opponent while he was still off balance._
5. A counter-attack made in any form of combat or sport.
   - Simple: A counter-attack in a fight or game, made right after the other side attacks.
   - _The team's swift riposte turned a desperate defense into a goal._
   - _After absorbing the charge, the knight launched a brutal riposte._

## Verb

3. To respond quickly, especially with a humorous reply.
   - Simple: To reply fast, often in a funny way.
   - _Good debaters riposte the instant a weak argument is raised._
   - _She ripostes with such wit that no one dares to mock her twice._
6. To attempt to strike an opponent immediately after parrying their attack.
   - Simple: To try to hit your opponent right after blocking their attack.
   - _Skilled fencers riposte before the attacker has time to recover._
   - _She ripostes with a lightning thrust after every parry._

## Origin

From French riposte, taken from Italian risposta, a derivative of the verb rispondere ("to respond").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/riposte (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).