What is the difference between the words “retort” and “riposte”?
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I am little bit confused with the words: Riposte and Retort. When to use which one?
Oxford says that...
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/retort
retort: Say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/riposte
riposte: A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
I don't understand whether:
1. retort means to snap back or riposte mean to snap back?
2. retort means to give witty reply or riposte means to give witty reply.
Please help and distinguish these two words.
Thank you in advance!
word-usage difference-in-meaning
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
|
show 2 more comments
I am little bit confused with the words: Riposte and Retort. When to use which one?
Oxford says that...
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/retort
retort: Say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/riposte
riposte: A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
I don't understand whether:
1. retort means to snap back or riposte mean to snap back?
2. retort means to give witty reply or riposte means to give witty reply.
Please help and distinguish these two words.
Thank you in advance!
word-usage difference-in-meaning
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
2
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
I am little bit confused with the words: Riposte and Retort. When to use which one?
Oxford says that...
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/retort
retort: Say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/riposte
riposte: A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
I don't understand whether:
1. retort means to snap back or riposte mean to snap back?
2. retort means to give witty reply or riposte means to give witty reply.
Please help and distinguish these two words.
Thank you in advance!
word-usage difference-in-meaning
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
I am little bit confused with the words: Riposte and Retort. When to use which one?
Oxford says that...
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/retort
retort: Say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/riposte
riposte: A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
I don't understand whether:
1. retort means to snap back or riposte mean to snap back?
2. retort means to give witty reply or riposte means to give witty reply.
Please help and distinguish these two words.
Thank you in advance!
word-usage difference-in-meaning
word-usage difference-in-meaning
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
edited 2 days ago
TrevorD
10.7k22458
10.7k22458
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
asked Apr 6 at 21:26
GustobgGustobg
334
334
One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
2
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
2
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago
One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
2
2
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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The two words are used pretty much interchangeably, but it's worth noting that riposte is also a term used in fencing, so it may carry that additional nuance of a counterattack in combat.
riposte n
1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
TFD Online
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
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The two words are used pretty much interchangeably, but it's worth noting that riposte is also a term used in fencing, so it may carry that additional nuance of a counterattack in combat.
riposte n
1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
TFD Online
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
add a comment |
The two words are used pretty much interchangeably, but it's worth noting that riposte is also a term used in fencing, so it may carry that additional nuance of a counterattack in combat.
riposte n
1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
TFD Online
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
add a comment |
The two words are used pretty much interchangeably, but it's worth noting that riposte is also a term used in fencing, so it may carry that additional nuance of a counterattack in combat.
riposte n
1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
TFD Online
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
The two words are used pretty much interchangeably, but it's worth noting that riposte is also a term used in fencing, so it may carry that additional nuance of a counterattack in combat.
riposte n
1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
TFD Online
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
answered 2 days ago
RobustoRobusto
130k30309523
130k30309523
add a comment |
add a comment |
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One difference (beyond the obvious ones in the above definitions) is that "riposte" is relatively new in popularity (I only first heard it maybe 10 years ago), while "retort" is ancient (and steadily losing popularity over the past 100 years). (Of course, "retort" can refer to a sort of device used in industry, so it gets a bit confused.) google.com/…
– Hot Licks
Apr 6 at 21:37
@HotLicks so both are synonymous?
– Gustobg
Apr 6 at 21:39
2
Do note that an "angry retort" is fairly likely. Eg, "You're an idiot!!" Not at all "clever". While a riposte is necessarily clever, and necessarily a reply to an insult/criticism.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Are the 'definitions' that you've quoted, your own definitions or from a dictionary? If the latter, please specify - and preferably provide links to - the respective dictionaries. I'm suggesting this because someone has already voted to close your question for lack of research.
– TrevorD
2 days ago
@TrevorD yes they are from dictionary
– Gustobg
2 days ago