RIPOSTE: "A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); (fencing) a counterattack made immediately after successful attack"

A "riposte" refers to a quick and clever reply, especially one made in a conversation or verbal exchange, often as a witty or sharp retort.

Etymology: "Riposte" comes from the French word of the same spelling, meaning 'retort' or 'reply.' It originated from the Italian word "risposta," which means 'response' or 'reply,' ultimately tracing back to the Latin word "respondēre," meaning 'to respond.'

Sample sentences:

1. After being teased, she had a brilliant riposte that left everyone laughing.

2. His opponent's sharp riposte caught him off guard during the debate.

3. The comedian was known for his quick and amusing ripostes to hecklers.

4. Despite the criticism, she always had a riposte ready to defend her perspective.

5. His riposte to the insult was so sharp that it silenced the room for a moment.

clipped from dictionary.reference.com riposte \rih-POST\, noun: 1. A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing. 2. A quick and effective reply by word or act. intransitive verb: 1. To make a riposte. She had an agile, teasing sense of humor that included a sure grasp of the absurd and an instinct for punchy ripostes. -- Sally Bedell Smith, Diana in Search of Herself It was an inelegant riposte, especially for one so quick-witted as Neumann. -- Peter Gay, My German Question When she told him how much she hated being called an old trout, he'd riposte: "The trout is the most beautiful of fish." -- Angela Carter, Shaking a Leg Riposte derives from Italian risposta, "an answer," from rispondere, "to answer," from Latin respondere, "to promise in return, to answer," from re- + spondere, "to promise."   "his opponent riposted"