counterjab

Etymology

From counter- + jab.

Why this word is great

COUNTERJAB — [Noun] A jab (thrust or insult) delivered in reply to a previous one. From counter- ("in opposition or response") + jab ("a quick thrust or verbal insult"). Unlike "riposte" (which implies a swift, often witty or strategic reply) or "retort" (which suggests a sharp or clever rejoinder), a counterjab is blunt, reflexive, and mirrors the original strike in form or intent. It is the instinctive flick of a boxer’s wrist after absorbing a blow, the muttered "you too" after a cheap insult, or the petty retaliation of a child who, having been pinched, pinches back—proof that reciprocity is the first and crudest law of human exchange. Sometimes the only way to stop the bleeding is to make the other person bleed.

noun

  1. A jab (thrust or insult) delivered in reply to a previous one.“And he made a counterjab at the United States, saying that the failure to fully equip Iraqi troops had damaged efforts to bring peace to the country, and if the United States speeded up the process of giving Iraqi troops equipment and weapons, the need for American troops could be significantly reduced within three to six months.”