The most instinctive act of nearly every creature is to protect its young, and with humans, this response persists for a lifetime.
Source: tatoeba (33335)
Response
/ɹɪˈspɑns/
Synonyms for "response" (288 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (58)
Noun(13 words)
reactionactionadaptationadjustmentansweranswer questionsanswersbehavior changebehaviourchanging quantitychorussingclarificationsclassroom engagement
Adjective(3 words)
biological effectbiological reactionchemical reactions
Strong matches (86)
congressconnectionconsciousnesscontactconversationconversecorrespondencecounterstatementdealingdealingsdefensedemurrerdenialdevelopmentdivisiondoxologyechoeffectemotionemotional charge
Show 54 more words
emotional shadeempathyespevasive replyexceptionexchangeexperienceexpositionfalderalfeedbackfeelingfeeling tonefellow feelingfigurefolderolforceforebodinggloriagloria in excelsisgloria patrigut reactionhallelujahharmonic closeheartthrobhosannahymnhymn of praisehymnodyhymnographyhymnologyidentificationimpactimpressimpressionimprintinformationinteractioninterchangeintercommunicationintercommunionintercourseinterludeintermezzointerplayintroductory phraseintroitinvolvementlaudlinguistic intercoursemagnificatmantramarkmeasuremessage
Noun(10 words)
Adjective(2 words)
dependent variableformal rebuttal
Related words (144)
misereremoodmotetmovementmusical phrasemusical sentencenunc dimittisobjectionoffertoryoffertory sentenceornamentpaeanpartpassagepassionpathosperceptperceptionperiodphrase
Show 94 more words
pleapleadingpredictable responsepresentimentprintprofound sensepsalmpsalmodyreactionready replyrebuttalreceiptrecoilreflectionreflexreflex actionrefluencerefluxrefrainrefutationrejoinderrelatingreparteerepercussionreplicationreplyreportrepostrescriptrescriptionresolutionrespondrespondenceresponse to stimuliresponsionresponsivenessresponsoryresponsory reportretortretroactionreturnreverberationrevulsionriposteriseritornellosectionsensationsensesense impressionsense perceptionsensory experiencesentimentsharingshort answerside effectsnappy comebacksocial intercoursespeakingspecial demurrerspecial pleadingspeechspeech circuitspeech situationstanzastatementstatement of defensestrainsympathetic chordsympathetic responsesympathytailpiecetalkingte deumtelepathytouchtraffictrisagiontrucktuttitutti passagetwo-way communicationundercurrentunthinking responsevariationvedic hymnverseversiclevibesvibrationvibrationswitty replywitty retortyes-and-no answer
Noun(24 words)
most behavioralobservationoperantoutcomephysiological changereaction outcomereactionsrebuttalsreceptionreflexrejoindersrepliesreplyreplyingresprespond to questionsrespondingresultretortingretorts
Show 4 more words
Adjective(3 words)
physical effectprompt answersocial upheaval response
Determiner(1 words)
the answer
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: reaction, acknowledgment, action, action and reaction, adaptation.
- Sentence evidence is available for response, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "response".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "response"
Keep "response" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "response" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "response", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "response" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
29 entriesShowing 16 of 29 words.
More specific
10 entriesconditioned responsegene expressiongrowth ratehormonal responseimmune responseinflammatory responsephototropismreflex actionsurvival ratetaxis
Collocations
6 entriesbehavioral responseimmune responsemeasured responsephysiological responseplant responserapid response
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
11 total sentences available.
All I could mumble in response was that when I was a man of fifty, my mother would lean out of the window when I left and remind me not to drive too fast.
Source: tatoeba (58807)
Your response is greatly appreciated and will enable us to prepare more efficiently.
Source: tatoeba (64006)
The candidate made a quick response to the criticism.
Source: tatoeba (240377)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "response"?
Closest matches include reaction, acknowledgment, action, action and reaction, adaptation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "response"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.