What does "parry" mean?
A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
Parry
/ˈpæɹ.i/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
- Grammar: parry is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: about the bush, answer, answer conclusively, argue down.
- Useful contrasts: answer, attack, bayonetting.
- Usage evidence: To parry the attack, press the Parry button exactly when your enemy's attack is about to connect.
How to use "parry"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "parry" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "parry" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "parry" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "parry" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "parry" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "about the bush" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "parry", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
- 2 a return punch (especially by a boxer) wordnet
- 3 A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.
- 4 (fencing) blocking a lunge or deflecting it with a circular motion of the sword wordnet
- 5 A defensive move intended to change the direction of an incoming strike to make it miss its intended target, rather than block and absorb it; and typically performed with an open hand in a downward or sideways slapping motion.
Verb
- 1 To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).
"One had to be on one's guard when thus confronted and, in the course of my numerous meetings with him, I had on occasion to exercise all my wits and be prepared at a moment's notice to parry a very awkward question, to which I would much rather have given a considered reply."
- 2 avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) wordnet
- 3 impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball) wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Welsh.
- 2 A unisex given name.
- 3 A hamlet in the Rural Municipality of Caledonia, No. 99, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"To parry the attack, press the Parry button exactly when your enemy's attack is about to connect."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "parry"?
Common synonyms include: about the bush, answer, answer conclusively, argue down, around the bush, avoid.
How do you use "parry" in a sentence?
To parry the attack, press the Parry button exactly when your enemy's attack is about to connect.
How do you pronounce "parry"?
Pronounced /ˈpæɹ.i/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree (“preparation, ceremony, parade”), from Medieval Latin parāta (“preparation, parade”), from parāre (“to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready”). More at pare. The English verb is taken from the noun. Doublet of parade. Alternative etymology derives the verb parry from French parez, the imperative form of parer (“to fend off”), ultimately from the Medieval Latin parāre. See above.
Etymology 2
Anglicised from Welsh ap Harri, "son of Henry".