answer back
phrasal verb
answered back; answering back; answers back
somewhat informal
: to reply to someone especially in a rude way
impolite children who answer back when their teacher corrects them
Examples of answer back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With no plan to break the country's political stalemate, the only course left for all sides is brinkmanship, with escalating Sunni demands for freedom and Baghdad answering back with intimidation.
—
Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
Carolina answered back after Guentzel scored his second goal of the playoffs.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024
Instead of answering back, the Yankees remained lifeless in the bottom of the inning against the flame-throwing Mason Miller.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
Toledo answered back with a goal as the teams started the third period deadlocked at two goals apiece.
—Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for answer back 
Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
Carolina answered back after Guentzel scored his second goal of the playoffs.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024
Instead of answering back, the Yankees remained lifeless in the bottom of the inning against the flame-throwing Mason Miller.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
Toledo answered back with a goal as the teams started the third period deadlocked at two goals apiece.
—Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for answer back
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'answer back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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