REPLY Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'reply' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reply are answer , rejoinder , response , and retort . While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised. // a point-by-point reply to the accusation

Q: Where would 'answer' be a reasonable alternative to 'reply'?

Although the words answer and reply have much in common, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need. // had answers to all their questions

Q: When can 'rejoinder' be used instead of 'reply'?

The meanings of rejoinder and reply largely overlap; however, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection. // a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

Q: When is 'response' a more appropriate choice than 'reply'?

The words response and reply can be used in similar contexts, but response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus. // a response to the call for recruits

Q: When would 'retort' be a good substitute for 'reply'?

In some situations, the words retort and reply are roughly equivalent. However, retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack. // she made a cutting retort to her critics

reply 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈplī

Definition of reply

as in to respond

to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering

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as in to answer

to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction please reply to my question at your earliest convenience

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2 of 2

noun

as in response

action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior decided the best reply to a wrongful discharge from employment was a lawsuit claiming discrimination

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as in answer

something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question I look forward to your reply to my request

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How does the noun reply differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reply are answer, rejoinder, response, and retort. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

Where would answer be a reasonable alternative to reply?

Although the words answer and reply have much in common, answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

When can rejoinder be used instead of reply?

The meanings of rejoinder and reply largely overlap; however, rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

When is response a more appropriate choice than reply?

The words response and reply can be used in similar contexts, but response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.

a response to the call for recruits

When would retort be a good substitute for reply?

In some situations, the words retort and reply are roughly equivalent. However, retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.

she made a cutting retort to her critics

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reply

Verb

One person replied asking when the fence near housing would be painted. — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Valnet, which owns Android Police and previously purchased The Verge’s sister site Polygon, didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

More than 80 employees reacted with approving emojis, and the first reply was excited and appreciative. — Garrison Lovely, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 That attorney requested—as any qualified counsel would—adequate time to review our motion and reply. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reply

Verb

Mountain Rescue Aspen has responded to a rising number of calls involving drug and alcohol use this season.

— The Aspen Times, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
The New York Police Department released body-camera video from its officers who responded to the scene.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of respond

Noun

Tellingly, the network seemed to know the difference in its official response, acknowledging that the original piece contained errors.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
In response to the Iran war and the disruption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, IEA members agreed to make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of response

Verb

Related Stories Speaking to Variety on the red carpet at its London Film Festival premiere on Sunday, Garfield — who has been Oscar-nominated twice but never won — reacted humbly to the praise.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Chaim Goodman-Strauss, one of the mathematicians behind the hat proof and an outreach mathematician at the National Museum of Mathematics, wrote a preprint reacting to the Chair44 results.

— Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of react

Noun

According to Ruan, its performance comes from optimizing the complete electrochemical system rather than focusing on a single electrode or reaction.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
On top of that, the levels of humans’ fever correlated with those of the equivalent reaction in mice, Ley says.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of reaction

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replumbs

replying

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“Reply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reply. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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