Formal:
* "When accused of plagiarism, the student retorted that he had properly cited all his sources."
* "The diplomat retorted with a witty remark, effectively deflecting the criticism."
Informal:
* " "You're being ridiculous!" she retorted, rolling her eyes."
* " "I don't understand," he said. "You're the one who's being unreasonable," she retorted."
Humorous:
* " "You're always late!" she exclaimed. "I wouldn't be if you weren't always making me wait," he retorted playfully."
Key Points:
* Retorted implies a sharp or quick reply, often in response to criticism or accusation.
* It's often used in dialogue to show a disagreement or argument.
* The tone of "retorted" can be formal or informal, depending on the context.