Clever comeback (7)

Latest answer — July 27, 2026

15 Down

A sharp reply that lands right back at the speaker 😏

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Monday, July 27, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Technospeak (6)
  2. 4Balloon filler (6)
  3. 9_Marty_ _____, 2025 film about a table tennis player (7)
  4. 10Last king of Troy (5)
  5. 11Slow piece of music (5)
  6. 12Featuring top-level performers (3-4)
  7. 13People with titles - arty Corsica (anag) (11)
  8. 18Duplicate item (7)
  9. 20Sellers or Ustinov? (5)
  10. 22Scout or suspect? (5)
  11. 23Without delay - type of coffee (7)
  12. 24Profit from an investment (6)
  13. 25Carrier of disease - covert (anag) (6)

Down

  1. 1Be in collision (6)
  2. 2More mellow (5)
  3. 3Burdensome (7)
  4. 5Force out (5)
  5. 6Foolish (7)
  6. 7Stick, lane or foam? (6)
  7. 8Deluded self-importance (11)
  8. 14Make more copies of (a book) (7)
  9. 15Clever comeback (7)
  10. 16Bullet which leaves a trail (6)
  11. 17Public speaker (6)
  12. 19Gather (5)
  13. 21Pamphlet (5)

The answer to “Clever comeback (7)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is RIPOSTE — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 27, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 15-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Clever comeback (7)” answer

RIPOSTE (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is RIPOSTE.

Why the answer is RIPOSTE

A sharp reply that lands right back at the speaker 😏

What does RIPOSTE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of RIPOSTE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism
  • a quick return thrust in fencing

When else has “Clever comeback (7)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

July 27, 2026 (most recent) → RIPOSTE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Clever comeback (7)”?

The answer is RIPOSTE, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 27, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Clever comeback (7)”?

7 letters: RIPOSTE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 27, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 15-Down.

Can “Clever comeback (7)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for July 27, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Guardian Quick Crossword is published by The Guardian; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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