ANSWER Synonyms: 193 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of answer are rejoinder , reply , response , and retort . While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need. // had answers to all their questions

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

The synonyms rejoinder and answer are sometimes interchangeable, but rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection. // a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

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

The meanings of reply and answer largely overlap; however, reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised. // a point-by-point reply to the accusation

Q: When might 'response' be a better fit than 'answer'?

In some situations, the words response and answer are roughly equivalent. However, 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: In what contexts can 'retort' take the place of 'answer'?

While the synonyms retort and answer are close in meaning, 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

answer 1 of 2

noun

ˈan(t)-sər

Definition of answer

as in response

something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question the standard answer of "Fine, thank you" when asked, "How are you?"

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in result

something attained by mental effort and especially by computation the answers to the odd-numbered problems are at the back of the book

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as in reaction

action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior a cold stare was her withering answer to that gratuitous insult

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

answer

2 of 2

verb

as in to respond

to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction didn't answer right away when the detective asked him where he'd been for the last three hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to correspond

to be in agreement on every point sorry, I haven't seen anyone answering to that description

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fulfill

to do what is required by the terms of I don't have a box cutter as such, but will this knife answer the purpose?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to solve

to find an answer for through reasoning try to answer this riddle

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun answer differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of answer are rejoinder, reply, response, and retort. While all these words mean "something spoken, written, or done in return," answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

Where would rejoinder be a reasonable alternative to answer?

The synonyms rejoinder and answer are sometimes interchangeable, but rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

When would reply be a good substitute for answer?

The meanings of reply and answer largely overlap; however, reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

When might response be a better fit than answer?

In some situations, the words response and answer are roughly equivalent. However, 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

In what contexts can retort take the place of answer?

While the synonyms retort and answer are close in meaning, 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 answer

Noun

Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The answer to Rapaport’s first question seems to leave Dijkstra’s quote in a good place. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

This is a common question about Hinduism but not a straightforward one to answer. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 In another, they were instructed to answer the questions randomly. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for answer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for answer

Noun

One of the more surreal responses to that experience is applause, which ripples through the audience of Paranormal Activity a beat after all the major scares, like rain settling in after a peal of thunder.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
MyStarChain will present its blockchain voting platform MyStarPick, and HiStranger will introduce Insight Flow, a tool that reads biosignals to gauge audience emotional response.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of response

Noun

Greening is a natural reaction—not a sign of rot or spoilage in the traditional sense.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
This reaction was triggered by Kiffin, who had planned to sign tight end Dae’Quan Wright after the Cleveland Browns released him during the preseason.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of reaction

Verb

Mamdani opened the news conference by expressing his condolences to the victims and their families and thanking the officers who responded.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Two people were stabbed, one fatally, near Times Square on Monday afternoon, with responding authorities shooting and killing the female suspect, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of respond

Verb

Back in 2015, Parton and her team buried a chestnut box filled with physical copies of a brand new song in two formats, cassette and CD, along with their corresponding players, under her Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
The cabin sound is enhanced using technology that senses intake pressure and creates a corresponding engine sound routed through the speakers.

— Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of correspond

Verb

During the holidays, that could mean repositioning inventory as demand shifts, identifying supplier or transportation delays sooner, or dynamically finding the fastest and most cost-effective way to fulfill an order when conditions change.

— Jill Standish, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Rather than chasing virality and social media hits, Obeid advises restaurants to focus deeper on creating businesses that fulfill a need for the community around them.

— Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of fulfill

Noun

While earlier sitcom crews met up at a coffee shop or a bar, young people like Billie—who spends her days submitting dozens of job applications without a single reply—are scarcely in a position to treat the city as their playground.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
The support assistant replies with instructions on how to do it.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of reply

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another

answer

answerability

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Style

“Answer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/answer. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of answer

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verb

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Synonyms of answer

noun

verb

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