Riposte

Pronunciation: /rɪˈpoʊst/

Definitions of riposte

noun a quick, clever reply or response in conversation or in a duel

Example Sentences

A1 In fencing, a riposte is a quick counterattack made after successfully defending against an opponent's attack.

A2 She delivered a witty riposte to his sarcastic remark, leaving him speechless.

B1 The politician's riposte to the criticism was to highlight his accomplishments in office.

B2 The author's riposte to the negative reviews was to write a scathing rebuttal defending their work.

C1 Her riposte to the journalist's probing questions revealed a depth of knowledge and insight on the subject.

C2 The lawyer's riposte during the cross-examination effectively dismantled the prosecution's case.

Examples of riposte in a Sentence

formal The diplomat delivered a sharp riposte to the accusations made by the foreign minister.

informal She always has a quick riposte ready whenever someone teases her.

slang He hit back with a savage riposte that left everyone speechless.

figurative His success in the competition was a riposte to all those who doubted his abilities.

Grammatical Forms of riposte

• past tense: riposted
• plural: ripostes
• comparative: more riposte
• superlative: most riposte
• present tense: ripostes
• future tense: will riposte
• perfect tense: have riposted
• continuous tense: is riposting
• singular: riposte
• positive degree: riposte
• infinitive: to riposte
• gerund: riposting
• participle: riposted

Origin and Evolution of riposte

First Known Use: 1700 year

Language of Origin: French

Story behind the word: The word 'riposte' originated from the French language, derived from the Italian word 'riposta' which means a quick and clever reply or retort.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in fencing to describe a quick counterattack following a parry, 'riposte' has evolved to also mean a swift and witty response in verbal or written exchanges.