parried
Turned aside deftly
Parried is the past tense of parry, meaning to deflect or ward off a blow or thrust.
The term comes from fencing—a parried strike is one you've blocked with your own blade: He parried the attack and countered.
Figuratively, to parry is to evade or deflect awkward questions or arguments: She parried every attempt to pin her down on the issue.
Quick, cutting reply
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- riposteSwift clever reply
- rejoinderReply to a reply
- comebackRecovery after decline
deflect · counter · evade · sidestep · rebuff · dismiss · dodge · response
retort
Quick, cutting reply
comeback · deflect · counter · evade · sidestep · rebuff · dismiss · dodge · response · quip
riposte
Swift clever reply
epee · sabre · bout · touché · disengage · feint · bladework · piste · fleche · reprise
block
Solid mass, or impede
counter · repel · dodge · sidestep · thrust · strike · sword · blade · weapon · defense
deflect
Turn from course
evade · circumvent · duck · avert · divert · redirect · misdirect · elude · finesse · outwit
- kept at bayrepelled, fended off, warded off, staved off, kept away