Standard Lemma guide

riposte

noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ɹɪˈpəʊst/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ɹɪˈpoʊst/
  • homophone: repost (some pronunciations)
  • CMU ARPABET: R IH0 P OW1 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A thrust given in return after parrying an attack.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: fencing, government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A counter-attack in any combat or any sport.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A quick and usually witty response to a taunt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retort

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An answer or reply, rapidly uttered, in response to a question or problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To attempt to hit an opponent after parrying an attack.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: fencing, government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To respond quickly; particularly if the response is humorous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

(fencing) a counterattack made immediately after successfully parrying the opponents lunge

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: counterattack, countermove

8

noun

Meaning 8

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rejoinder, retort, return, replication, comeback, counter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reply, response

Narrower terms: sass, sassing, backtalk, back talk, lip, mouth

9

verb

Meaning 9

answer back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retort, come back, repay, return, rejoin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: answer, reply, respond

10

verb

Meaning 10

make a return thrust

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his opponent riposted

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lunge, hurl, hurtle, thrust

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ответен удар (otveten udar) — (fencing)
  • Chinese Cantonese: 還擊 /还击 (waan4 gik1) — (fencing)
  • Finnish: vastapisto — (fencing)
  • Finnish: riposti — (fencing)
  • German: Riposte — (fencing)
  • Greek: αντιξιφισμός (antixifismós) — (fencing)
  • Polish: riposta — (fencing)
  • Portuguese: resposta — (fencing)
  • Russian: ответный уда́р (otvetnyj) — (fencing)
  • Swedish: ripost — (fencing)
  • Bulgarian: остроумен отговор (ostroumen otgovor) — a quick and usually witty response to a taunt
  • Finnish: heitto — a quick and usually witty response to a taunt
  • Hungarian: visszavágás — a quick and usually witty response to a taunt
  • Russian: находчивый отве́т (naxodčivyj) — a quick and usually witty response to a taunt
  • Swedish: ripost — a quick and usually witty response to a taunt
  • Finnish: heitto — an answer or reply, rapidly uttered
  • Hungarian: visszavágás — an answer or reply, rapidly uttered
  • Swedish: ripost — an answer or reply, rapidly uttered
  • Swedish: ripostera — fencing: to attempt to hit an opponent after parrying an attack
  • German: zurückschießen — to respond quickly; particularly if the response is humorous
  • German: zurückgeben — to respond quickly; particularly if the response is humorous
  • Portuguese: retorquir — to respond quickly; particularly if the response is humorous
  • Swedish: ripostera — to respond quickly; particularly if the response is humorous