backchat
Impudent verbal replies
Backchat is impudent or cheeky talk in response to authority—what Americans more often call back talk.
A child gives backchat when answering a parent's instruction with attitude: Don't give me any backchat, young lady.
The term is more common in British English and suggests defiance without outright rebellion.
Rude disregard for propriety
- saucinessCheeky boldness
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- pertnessCheeky, lively impudence
- freshnessState of being unspoiled
lip · sass · mouth · cheek · nerve · gall · audacity · boldness
Recovery after decline
- rejoinderReply to a reply
- riposteSwift clever reply
- clapbackSwift retaliatory response
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
counter · quip · wisecrack · reply · response · answer · sally · snappy comeback
Quick, clever conversation
- witClever, inventive humor
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- badinagePlayful, teasing conversation
- railleryHumorous, affectionate teasing
persiflage · teasing · joking · ribbing · joshing · sparring · playfulness · give-and-take
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
contumacy · recalcitrance · obstinacy · willfulness · unruliness · contrariness · stubbornness · mutiny
impertinence
Rude disregard for propriety
- saucinessCheeky boldness
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- pertnessCheeky, lively impudence
freshness · lip · sass · mouth · cheek · nerve · gall · audacity · boldness · brashness
comeback
Recovery after decline
rebuttal · counter · quip · wisecrack · reply · response · answer · sally · snappy comeback · parting shot
repartee
Quick, clever conversation
raillery · persiflage · teasing · joking · ribbing · joshing · sparring · playfulness · give-and-take · crosstalk
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
noncompliance · contumacy · recalcitrance · obstinacy · willfulness · unruliness · contrariness · stubbornness · mutiny · dissent
- backtalksass, lip, mouthing off, mouth off, smart mouth
- talkbackscomments, feedback, replies, Q&A, Q&A session
- audacityboldness, brazenness, audacity, chutzpah, gall
- chatterchatter, chatting, chitchat, gab session, gabbing
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
backchatdeference
Yielding to another's judgment
compliance · obedience · respect · acquiescence · submission
backchatpoliteness
Courteous, respectful conduct
courtesy · respect · civility · deference · graciousness