to defend yourself by turning aside or blocking the force of a weapon or argument, to avoid answering a question or dealing with a difficult situation

parry and thrust, parry words, parry with

Formal and Informal Expressions of parry

In different contexts, you can replace 'parry' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'defend against, ward off' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'dodge, sidestep' is a commonplace synonym.

parry: Explore its Definition & Usage

parry Definition

1to defend yourself by turning aside or blocking the force of a weapon or argument
2to avoid answering a question or dealing with a difficult situation

Using parry: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "parry" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He parried the sword thrust with his own blade.
Example
She parried the reporter's question with a joke.
Example
The politician parried the criticism by changing the subject.
Example
The boxer parried the opponent's punch and counterattacked.

parry Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for parry

Antonyms for parry

Phrases with parry

parry and thrust
a fencing technique that involves deflecting an opponent's attack and immediately following up with a counterattack
Example
His parry and thrust was so quick that his opponent couldn't keep up.
parry words
to avoid answering a question or dealing with a difficult situation by using clever or evasive language
Example
The CEO parried words when asked about the company's financial troubles.
parry with
to engage in a verbal exchange, often in a playful or teasing manner
Example
The two friends parried with each other over their favorite sports teams.

Origins of parry

from French 'parer', meaning 'to ward off'

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Summary: parry in Brief

The verb 'parry' [ˈpæri] means to defend oneself by deflecting or blocking an attack, whether physical or verbal. It can also mean to avoid answering a question or dealing with a difficult situation. Examples include 'He parried the sword thrust with his own blade.' and 'The politician parried the criticism by changing the subject.' Phrases like 'parry and thrust' denote a fencing technique, while 'parry words' refers to avoiding a question with clever language.