clap back
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To make a witty or sarcastic retort.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
On Monday night, President Trump tweeted a clip of Ms. Thunberg's speech, along with a message many believed to be sarcastic. "She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future," he wrote. "So nice to see!" Ms. Thunberg, who has nearly two million Twitter follow
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “clap back” mean?
To make a witty or sarcastic retort.
Is “clap back” formal or informal?
clap back is generally informal.