Have you ever thought of the best comeback only after it was too late? Right before bed, while taking a shower or standing in an elevator, you get your light-bulb moment: “Ahh, why didn’t I think of it before?” The French even came up with a term for that, l’esprit de l’escalier—the spirit of the staircase—and it means that the perfect retort arises only when it doesn’t matter anymore.
However, this does not apply to everyone. A select few have the superpower of coming up with snappy one-liners on the spot, and the r/CleverComebacks subreddit is the site to go for these legendary comments. As the moderators put it, “If someone just got shown up, this is the place to post it.“
So make sure to scroll down and upvote your favorite retorts! And if you can’t get enough of snappy comebacks, make sure to check out We’s previous posts here, here and here.
#1 He Was Asking For It!
Final score: 840points 
A B C A B C Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
What a prick. I’m against violence, but that idiot was screaming for it.
399 399points reply View More Replies…
If you’d like to share a post on the “Clever Comebacks“ subreddit page, there’s a few rules you need to follow. Firstly, you should know what a witty comment is. According to the moderators, it’s “responses to someone that, for lack of a better word, roasts them.” Also, baseless insults, tasteless jokes, “no, u” style replies are what they call garbage content, and nobody likes them.
When you think about it, the only obvious goal when trying to think of a snappy comeback is to get a good laugh and share your original thought. And the same applies to real-life situations. If you hate those awkward moments when your friends or coworkers throw you a snide comment and everything that comes to your mind just sounds lame, don’t worry. In real life, not many people can be as clever as Dr. House or Chandler Bing, but there’s a few ways you can improve your reactions and become wittier.
#2 Bless This Woman
Final score: 826points 
Aiyanna Clements Aiyanna Clements Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Bless her indeed
202 202points reply
One of the things that could make you better is the world of improv acting. When it comes to showing your wit, timing is everything. The reply should be as spontaneous as the words that took you by surprise. One way of improving would be to become a better active listener. As Abigail Paul, workshop facilitator and training developer, told the BBC, “people think faster than others speak, giving the listener “extra time“ to compose an answer, even while they give the appearance of still listening to what the other person is saying.”
Come to think of it, there have been many times when we already wanted to share an idea with the person who’s not yet finished talking. “Most of us don’t listen to the whole message,” Paul said, “we are just waiting to make our own points.” So if you want to whip out snappy remarks, you should actively listen to what the other person is saying and use the unexpected material she or he gave you.
#3 Not Be A Baby Machine
Final score: 805points A B C A B C Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
“the transformed wife”? “godly womanhood”? Gosh, that lady is so brainwashed, it’s sparkling inside her head.
243 243points reply View More Replies… #4 This Always Makes Me Laugh
Final score: 800points Michelle Michelle Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 month ago Report
As much as I don’t like a lot of PETAs ways of doing things, this reply did make me laugh
3 3points reply
Sometimes, when we receive a biting remark, we might feel offended. Belina Raffy, a business improvisation consultant, said that negative comments usually come from a place of insecurity. So when it comes to your coworker who constantly tosses you rude remarks, remember that responding positively might ease the pressure and keep projects going smoothly. ”Positive witty comments build trust among colleagues, bosses and subordinates, and they can turn a formerly harsh environment into an accepting one,” Raffy said.
#5 It Was Social Distancing Haha
Final score: 789points 
Raven Sheridan Raven Sheridan Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Clearly this person got their prehistoric knowledge from watching The Flintstones.
260 260points reply View More Replies… #6 They Don’t Give A Damn
Final score: 768points 
Kristin Burggraf Kristin Burggraf Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 3 months ago Report
Can I interest you in some fairtrade organic aloe for that… BURN?!?!?!
28 28points reply
Another great tip would be silencing your inner critic: “It’s about letting go of the need to judge ourselves,” Raffy explains. You should try saying what’s on your mind without thinking about it. In improv theater, actors try to let go of their inner voice and give in to their “deepest fantasies” in order to say something spontaneous that they would never say in real life.
#7 German History Lesson
Final score: 760points #8 Oof. That Burn Needs Some Love
Final score: 759points 
Grumble O'Pug Grumble O'Pug Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
*opens a GoFundMe for aloe vera purchases at Walgreens*
196 196points reply View More Replies… #9 Someone Needs A Refresher On Anatomy
Final score: 754points Otter Otter Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
So THAT’S how his wife explained all those kids, even if he never had sex with her while awake!
384 384points reply View More Replies…
Let’s not forget the brands that make clever comebacks a key part of their communication with customers. One obvious example is the fast-food chain Wendy’s and their made-up social media holiday—National Roast Day. Their communications team does not hold back when it comes to witty replies in their social channels. The question is, do the customers actually value it?
#10 A Punchline From Twitter, Does This Count As A Meme?
Final score: 754points #11 That’s A Good Proof
Final score: 731points 
GoodWolf GoodWolf Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Fool.
388 388points reply View More Replies… #12 Got Roasted By A Police Twitter
Final score: 730points 
Katherine Heasley Katherine Heasley Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 weeks ago Report
It’s so awful when the police murder someone like this.
0 0points reply
A survey by Sprout Social suggests that such responses are actually not appreciated by customers. Brand personality should connect your product to its consumers but as it turns out, that’s not always the case. Sprout surveyed 1,000 consumers on which traits they want brands to share on social media and what action behaviors like humor or friendliness cause.
#13 It Is Funny But True
Final score: 728points 
River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
check which one is magnetic
158 158points reply View More Replies… #14 Yep May Be It Is True
Final score: 713points Andy Acceber Andy Acceber Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
It’s not illegal to seek asylum. Also, documented immigrants have lower rates of committing violent, property, or drug crimes than native-born citizens. Undocumented immigrants have rates even lower than them. The anti-immigrant, xenophobic fear-mongering that happens here is ridiculous and repulsive. Here’s the research if anyone needs to educate friends or family: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/51/32340
163 163points reply View More Replies… #15 Whatever Your Weakness, There’s A Hellion To Exploit It
Final score: 713points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago (edited) Report
do you think Jeff has anymore d*** rockets? I need to get off this planet, permanently
126 126points reply View More Replies…
It seems that “three-quarters of consumers surveyed believe there’s value in brands exhibiting humor on social but only one-third actually want brands to bring on the snark full force.” The majority of consumers buy from brands that are honest, helpful and friendly. “It turns out that at the end of the day, consumers want brands to use social as a customer care channel”, Sprout explains. So while this kind of risky brand personality offers you a great deal of exposure, it seems that it’s actually bad for business.
#16 Most Of Us Are Too
Final score: 712points 
J J Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 month ago Report
It’s just a food baby 😂
1 1point reply #17 Elon Musk Gets Destroyed By Facts And Logic
Final score: 710points 
Thundernight Thundernight Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Space doesn’t represent hope for me though-
119 119points reply View More Replies… #18 Simple Math To Hard
Final score: 685points Grumble O'Pug Grumble O'Pug Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Well, math isn’t his strong suit
154 154points reply View More Replies…
Lastly, for a clever comeback to be considered great, it has to be honest. “The best retorts speak truth — when a person calls something that the other people didn’t see,” said Paul. “That’s generally what makes us laugh.” So if you think of a clever comeback that’s piercingly accurate and say it right there on the spot, you feel absolutely great because you know that you’ve earned it.
#19 True Perfection Has Been Achieved
Final score: 670points Penelope Penelope Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
This made me truly laugh out loud. Well done!
222 222points reply View More Replies… #20 Old But Gold
Final score: 661points 
Julie C Rose Julie C Rose Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Congratulations to Australia for deporting her when she acted like a brat about quarantining.
58 58points reply View More Replies… #21 Accessible Parking, But Only During Office Hours
Final score: 622points 
Lyone Fein Lyone Fein Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Daniel clearly has some disabilities of his own.
276 276points reply View More Replies… #22 I Swear It Was On
Final score: 606points Lyone Fein Lyone Fein Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Nuf said
134 134points reply View More Replies… #23 Jesus Statues vs. Police State
Final score: 592points 
Caro Caro Caro Caro Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Matt needs a Schlapp in his face.
205 205points reply View More Replies… #24 Finnally A Manager Making A Comeback
Final score: 588points 
ADHORTATOR ADHORTATOR Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
So did the English, but in France we did never regret it 🙂
27 27points reply View More Replies… #25 Found This While Browsing Instead Of Sleeping
Final score: 573points Raven Sheridan Raven Sheridan Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Ouch! Classical Greek burn. I take my hat off to you good sir! 🎩
222 222points reply View More Replies… #26 Would You Like Some Whine With That?
Final score: 571points Caro Caro Caro Caro Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Waaahaha, what a great answer. Wright got it right !
97 97points reply View More Replies… #27 F*cking Sheep
Final score: 562points A B C A B C Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Poor sheep.
160 160points reply View More Replies… #28 English Unchanged
Final score: 547points Grumble O'Pug Grumble O'Pug Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
This needs to fly higher.
127 127points reply View More Replies… #29 He Makes A Good Point
Final score: 546points 
Auntriarch Auntriarch Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Ryan not awake yet?
25 25points reply View More Replies… #30 Technically He Spoke Genders Into Existence Because By His Very Word He Can Create
Final score: 496points 
Stefan Stefan Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I can imagine Darwin spitting his tea reading this.
229 229points reply View More Replies… #31 I Prayed For Help And God Sent Doctors With The Vaccine, I Said “No Thanks, I’m Waiting For God To Help Me”
Final score: 491points Adrian Adrian Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
So, God sent doctors with vaccines which had been developed by other doctors using the brains God gave them, and you turned them all down. Wow!
45 45points reply #32 One For The Burn Ward
Final score: 486points 
Fred L. Fred L. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
A real shame; she has become such a nutcase.
126 126points reply View More Replies… #33 Mindy Kaling Shuttin’ ‘Em Down
Final score: 480points Jess Thompson Jess Thompson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Mindy kalig is a highly underestimated genius
162 162points reply View More Replies… #34 Not Sure What Is The Objective Is Here?
Final score: 461points 
Trillian Trillian Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
99.9% of the people claiming something is “socialism” don’t have any idea what socialism means
64 64points reply View More Replies… #35 Nasa Is Untrustworthy
Final score: 456points Nandina Nandina Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Ignorance is the absence of knowledge. Stupidity is the presence of knowledge and the refusal to use it. Paul Coelho
25 25points reply View More Replies… #36 It Really Is The Churches Motto Tho
Final score: 446points GoodWolf GoodWolf Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Really? A pastor saying “show up acting stupid and find out if we have guns”??WTF and I’m not even religious
247 247points reply View More Replies… #37 The Real Deal
Final score: 434points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
even if he stays out of the emergency room (which he should) he’ll still impact others, either by transmitting the disease to the vulnerable or to spread misinformation.
115 115points reply View More Replies… #38 She Seems So Dumb
Final score: 431points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I’ll pay 38 dollars for a burrito if it means someone is able to pay their bills
150 150points reply View More Replies… #39 Why Do Some People Want Others To Have It Bad Cruz They Had ? Hope This Isn’t Already Here
Final score: 428points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
why is there such a big obsession with the military, I mean killing others or getting yourself killed is hardly a good thing
126 126points reply View More Replies… #40 I’m Not A Gamer For Nothing
Final score: 427points 
Little Wonder Little Wonder Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Also video games are fun, and there’s no age limit on fun.
189 189points reply View More Replies… #41 Look I Made A Joke
Final score: 420points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
you can’t spell stupid without u, except this probably isn’t a coincidence
129 129points reply View More Replies… #42 Does Jlo Have A Reply To That?
Final score: 407points Little Wonder Little Wonder Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
Well. That’s.. certainly an opinion.
78 78points reply #43 In 1919 And 1920, At The Very Start Of His Career, Tolkien Worked On The Staff Of The Oxford English Dictionary; He Later Said Of This Time That He “.. Learned More In Those Two Years Than In Any Other Equal Period Of My Life”
Final score: 402points Grumble O'Pug Grumble O'Pug Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I though dwarfs was a verb
118 118points reply View More Replies… #44 It Works Both Ways!
Final score: 372points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago (edited) Report
honestly pack your bags and leave, save your husband the trouble
194 194points reply View More Replies… #45 He Wants The Ring Please
Final score: 369points Grumble O'Pug Grumble O'Pug Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
You can slide off a door into oblivion, too.
76 76points reply View More Replies… #46 Don’t Mistake Empathy For Weaknesses
Final score: 369points beastmachine. beastmachine. Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I am pretty sure he didn’t get who his father’s son is…
189 189points reply View More Replies… #47 Getting Schooled
Final score: 356points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
how do people who barely managed a high school degree get into parliament?
85 85points reply View More Replies… #48 Fake Incest Go!
Final score: 341points River Webb River Webb Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
sweet home Alabama…
126 126points reply View More Replies… #49 State Representative Got Owned!
Final score: 339points 
Tamra Stiffler Tamra Stiffler Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
It disgusts me to my core when adults use children to further their political or personal ideology.
206 206points reply View More Replies… #50 We Need No Masks Because Viruses Are Not Real
Final score: 325points 
Laura Zappenduster Laura Zappenduster Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I hope she always uses either abstinence or D*ck masks to avoid reproduction.
21 21points reply View More Replies… #51 Not Sure If This Has Been Posted Here Yet, Sorry If It Has Been
Final score: 321points Susie Elle Susie Elle Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago Report
I don’t understand how forcing existing characters to be queer is a sign of inclusion. To me that’s like making a Jane Bond and giving yourself a pat on the shoulder for being so inclusive.
176 176points reply View More Replies…
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