Meaning & use

Clapback

noun·Everyday

Last updated

A quick, sharp, and often witty retort made in response to criticism or an insult, especially on social media.

See it in a sentence

Her clapback to the online troll went viral within hours.

The comedian is known for his instant clapbacks during interviews.

A note on using this word

Popularized by hip-hop and social media culture; Merriam-Webster added the word to its dictionary in the 2020s.

Words with a similar meaning

retortcomeback

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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