backtalking
Giving lip rudely
Backtalking is responding to authority with impertinent or disrespectful remarks.
Children backtalk parents, students backtalk teachers, employees backtalk supervisors: Don't you backtalk me, young man.
The word implies defiance from someone expected to accept instruction or correction quietly.
Also appears as the noun backtalk and the phrasal verb talk back.
Impertinent verbal attitude
- cheekAudacity or facial side
- lipMouth's outer edge
- mouthinessRude verbal boldness
- saucinessCheeky boldness
snark · smart-aleck · impudence · impertinence · audacity · brazenness · cheekiness · flippancy
Defying workplace authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- rebelliousnessTendency toward defiant resistance
obstinacy · stubbornness · contrariness · willfulness · recalcitrance · unruliness · defiance · opposition
Disrespectful social behavior
- disrespectLack of regard
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
derision · scoffing · taunting · ridicule · disparagement · incivility · impoliteness · scorn
sass
Impertinent verbal attitude
- cheekAudacity or facial side
- lipMouth's outer edge
- mouthinessRude verbal boldness
sauciness · snark · smart-aleck · impudence · impertinence · audacity · brazenness · cheekiness · flippancy · irreverence
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
rebelliousness · obstinacy · stubbornness · contrariness · willfulness · recalcitrance · unruliness · defiance · opposition · challenge
rudeness
Disrespectful social behavior
- disrespectLack of regard
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
mockery · derision · scoffing · taunting · ridicule · disparagement · incivility · impoliteness · scorn · insolence
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
clash · altercation · squabble · bickering · spat · tiff · row · retort · rejoinder · comeback
backtalkingdeferring
Postponing or yielding respectfully
obeying · complying · kowtowing · yielding · submitting
backtalkingobeying
Following directives given
complying · acquiescing · submitting · accepting · agreeing
talk, talks, talking, talked, backtalk, outtalk, talkback, backtalks, talkbacks