Comeback — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkəm-ˌbak/ come·back

Meaning & Definition of Comeback

Comeback (noun)

  1. a sharp or witty reply, retort
  2. a cause for complaint
  3. a return to a former position or condition (as of success or prosperity), recovery, revival

Comeback (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a quick witty response

    "always ready with a comeback for every insult"

    similar: repartee, retort, riposte
    related: squelch, back talk, crack, quip, sally, wisecrack, witticism, zinger, cut, insult, put-down

  2. something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question

    "regardless of the question posed by the prosecutor, the witness had a plausible comeback"

    similar: answer, rejoinder, replication, reply, response, retort, return
    related: back talk, banter, persiflage, repartee, acknowledgment, comment, communication, correspondence, feedback, non sequitur, observation, reaction, remark, defense, explanation, justification, plea, rebuttal, refutation
    opposite: inquiry, query, question
    near: challenge, charge, cross-examination, grilling, interrogation, interrogatory, quiz, poll, questionnaire, survey

  3. the process or period of gradually regaining one's health and strength

    "trying to make a comeback after a career-threatening injury"

    similar: convalescence, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback
    related: resuscitation, revival, survival
    near: decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, languishing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse

Related Entry: Make a comeback (phrase)

Make a comeback is a different word from Comeback. The synonyms below are for make a comeback, not for comeback.

  1. to regain a former or normal state

    "The injury looked gnarly, but she made a quick comeback and was able to finish out the season."

    similar: bounce (back), come back, rally, rebound, recover, snap back
    related: reanimate, revitalize, revive
    near: decline, fail, worsen

Related Entry: Made a comeback (phrase)

Made a comeback is a different word from Comeback. The synonyms below are for made a comeback, not for comeback.

  1. to regain a former or normal state

    "The injury looked gnarly, but she made a quick comeback and was able to finish out the season."

    similar: bounced (back), came back, rallied, rebounded, recovered, snapped back
    related: reanimated, revitalized, revived
    near: declined, failed, worsened

Related Entry: Makes a comeback (phrase)

Makes a comeback is a different word from Comeback. The synonyms below are for makes a comeback, not for comeback.

  1. to regain a former or normal state

    "The injury looked gnarly, but she made a quick comeback and was able to finish out the season."

    similar: bounces (back), comes back, rallies, rebounds, recovers, snaps back
    related: reanimates, revitalizes, revives
    near: declines, fails, worsens

Related Entry: Making a comeback (phrase)

Making a comeback is a different word from Comeback. The synonyms below are for making a comeback, not for comeback.

  1. to regain a former or normal state

    "The injury looked gnarly, but she made a quick comeback and was able to finish out the season."

    similar: bouncing (back), coming back, rallying, rebounding, recovering, snapping back
    related: reanimating, revitalizing, reviving
    near: declining, failing, worsening

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Comeback

The most common words with a similar meaning to Comeback:

repartee, retort, riposte, answer, rejoinder, replication, reply, response, return, convalescence, healing, mending, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehab, rehabilitation, snapback

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Comeback

Words with the opposite meaning of Comeback:

inquiry, query, question

Related Words for Comeback

squelch, back talk, crack, quip, sally, wisecrack, witticism, zinger, cut, insult, put-down, banter, persiflage, acknowledgment, comment, communication, correspondence, feedback, non sequitur, observation, reaction, remark, defense, explanation, justification, plea, rebuttal, refutation, resuscitation, revival

Near Antonyms of Comeback

challenge, charge, cross-examination, grilling, interrogation, interrogatory, quiz, poll, questionnaire, survey, decline, degeneration, deterioration, fading, failing, languishing, sinking, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering, worsening, regression, relapse

Origin & Etymology of Comeback

First known use: 1889

Frequently Asked Questions about Comeback

What does "Comeback" mean?

"Comeback" means a sharp or witty reply, retort. As a noun, it is defined as: a sharp or witty reply, retort. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Comeback"?

Other words for "Comeback" include repartee, retort, riposte, answer, rejoinder, replication, reply and response. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Comeback" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Comeback"?

There are 49 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Comeback". Common alternatives include repartee, retort, riposte, answer, rejoinder, replication, reply, response, return and convalescence.

What is the opposite of "Comeback"?

Antonyms of "Comeback" include inquiry, query and question. Near antonyms include challenge, charge, cross-examination and grilling.

How do you use "Comeback" in a sentence?

Examples of "Comeback" in a sentence: "always ready with a comeback for every insult"; "regardless of the question posed by the prosecutor, the witness had a plausible comeback"; "trying to make a comeback after a career-threatening injury".

Is "Comeback" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Comeback" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Comeback"?

"Comeback" is pronounced /ˈkəm-ˌbak/ and divided into syllables as come·back.

What is the origin of the word "Comeback"?

First known use: 1889.