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
Over the last two years, the Central Intelligence Agency has developed a tool that allows analysts to talk to virtual versions of foreign presidents and prime ministers, who answer back.
—
Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Some who wander into her crosshairs dare to answer back, which only adds fuel to the fire.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025
Between their 9-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and the first six innings in Chicago, the Boston bats plated 20 runs before their opponent answered back.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 June 2024
Instead of answering back, the Yankees remained lifeless in the bottom of the inning against the flame-throwing Mason Miller, who threw eight pitches over 100 mph and topped out at 103.3 while striking out Anthony Volpe, Soto and Aaron Judge.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
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Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Some who wander into her crosshairs dare to answer back, which only adds fuel to the fire.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025
Between their 9-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and the first six innings in Chicago, the Boston bats plated 20 runs before their opponent answered back.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 June 2024
Instead of answering back, the Yankees remained lifeless in the bottom of the inning against the flame-throwing Mason Miller, who threw eight pitches over 100 mph and topped out at 103.3 while striking out Anthony Volpe, Soto and Aaron Judge.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for answer back
Dictionary Entries Near answer back
Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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