Definitions

talk back

[tawk-bak] / ˈtɔkˌbæk /

VERB

answer

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge argue claim defend deny explain plead resolve respond return say solve

STRONG

comeback contest counterclaim disprove dispute echo feedback parry rebut refute rejoin remark retaliate retort sass settle squelch top

WEAK

answer back back at you back-talk be in touch field the question get back at get back to give a snappy comeback shoot back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree ask deny ignore leave question renounce request wonder

STRONG

allow prove

VERB

argue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contend disagree dispute quarrel quibble squabble

STRONG

altercate bandy battle bicker buck cross feud hammer hash hassle jump pettifog rehash row sass wrangle

WEAK

break with bump heads cross swords face down face off gang up on get in one's face go one-on-one hammer away hash over have at each other have at it jump on knock around lock horns mix it up pick an argument put up a fight put up a struggle set to sock it to stick it to

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree concur give in

STRONG

make peace

WEAK

abstain comply harmonize ignore keep quiet keep silent overlook

VERB

back talk

Synonyms

STRONGEST

answer back

STRONG

argue mouth off sass

WEAK

complain protest

VERB

debate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

answer bicker consider contest deliberate oppose question wrangle

STRONG

agitate altercate bandy canvass cogitate confab confute contend controvert demonstrate differ disprove dispute hassle moot pettifog prove reason rebut refute rehash

WEAK

bump heads chew the fat cross swords discept hammer away at hash over have at it kick around knock around lock horns pick a bone put up argument set to talk game thrash out toss around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree

STRONG

endorse give in go along harmonize make peace prove

VERB

pettifog

Synonyms

STRONG

altercate argufy avoid bicker carp cavil chicane criticize dispute equivocate evade fence flip-flop hassle niggle nitpick pretend prevaricate shift spar squabble waffle wrangle

WEAK

argue over blow hot and cold catch at straws have at it hem and haw hypercriticize make a big thing about nit-pick paralogize pick to pieces put up an argument set to split hairs

Antonyms

STRONG

agree concur face give in meet tell the truth

VERB

quibble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bicker carp spar squabble waffle wrangle

STRONG

altercate argufy avoid cavil chicane criticize dispute equivocate evade fence flip-flop hassle pettifog pretend prevaricate shift

WEAK

argue over blow hot and cold catch at straws have at it hem and haw hypercriticize make a big thing about nit-pick paralogize put up an argument set to split hairs

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree

STRONG

face meet tell the truth

WEAK

approve concur

VERB

react

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge act answer behave counter feel perform proceed reply revert

STRONG

backfire boomerang echo function operate rebound reciprocate recoil recur return take work

WEAK

answer back be affected bounce back get back at give a snappy comeback give back have a funny feeling have vibes turn back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cease halt question stop

STRONG

idle keep refuse

VERB

respond

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge answer behave come back counter react reply return

STRONG

reciprocate rejoin retort

WEAK

act in response answer back be in touch with come back at come in feedback feel for field the question get back to get in touch

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ask depart leave question request

VERB

retort

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rebut

STRONG

counter crack rejoin repay reply requite respond retaliate return riposte sass squelch top

WEAK

answer back come back at shoot back snap back

Antonyms

STRONG

ask question request take

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"He was just so domineering and you just couldn't talk back to him," she added.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

All the talk back then was whether the Preds would unload star goalie Juuse Saros at the trade deadline.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2024

The elephants were also quicker to talk back when the recordings were of others calling their names, as opposed to when researchers played recordings of non-name elephant chatter.

From Salon • Nov. 17, 2023

As with Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and other digital assistants, users can talk to ChatGPT and it will talk back.

From New York Times • Sep. 25, 2023

I know better than to talk back and start an argument.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

talk back

Example Sentences

Related Words