back-chat
Impertinent verbal replies
Back-chat is cheeky or impudent replies, especially from someone expected to be respectful or obedient: Don't give me any back-chat.
The term is primarily British, with *backtalk* more common in American English.
It implies a subordinate—child, student, employee—answering back when they shouldn't.
Rude disregard for propriety
- cheekAudacity or facial side
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- disrespectLack of regard
brazenness · sass · sauciness · flippancy · snark · lip · mouth · attitude
Quick, clever conversation
- rejoinderReply to a reply
- riposteSwift clever reply
- quipBrief, clever remark
- comebackRecovery after decline
clapback · rebuttal · counter · reply · response · wisecrack · zinger · one-liner
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- contrarinessHabitual disposition to oppose
willfulness · stubbornness · recalcitrance · obstinacy · unruliness · challenge · opposition · refusal
Playfully disrespectful
- snarkyMockingly critical in tone
- sassyBoldly irreverent in manner
- saucyBoldly disrespectful, often playfully
- smart-mouthedGiven to impertinent remarks
mouthy · lippy · smart-alecky · fresh · irreverent · facetious · pert · flippant
impertinence
Rude disregard for propriety
- cheekAudacity or facial side
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
disrespect · brazenness · sass · sauciness · flippancy · snark · lip · mouth · attitude · freshness
repartee
Quick, clever conversation
comeback · clapback · rebuttal · counter · reply · response · wisecrack · zinger · one-liner · witty reply
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
contrariness · willfulness · stubbornness · recalcitrance · obstinacy · unruliness · challenge · opposition · refusal · dissent
cheeky
Playfully disrespectful
- snarkyMockingly critical in tone
- sassyBoldly irreverent in manner
- saucyBoldly disrespectful, often playfully
smart-mouthed · mouthy · lippy · smart-alecky · fresh · irreverent · facetious · pert · flippant · bold
back-chatdeference
Yielding to another's judgment
obedience · compliance · respect · submission · acquiescence
back-chatsilence
Total lack of sound
biting one's tongue · saying nothing · keeping quiet · acceptance · muteness
back, chat, backs, backed, backing, backside, backward, backwards, setback