To respond to someone in a disrespectful, impudent, or cheeky manner; to talk back to someone, often with a flippant or saucy attitude. It implies a verbal challenge or show of defiance, usually targeted at someone in a position of authority or someone deserving of respect. The term 'sassed' suggests an impertinent verbal exchange, highlighting the speaker's lack of deference or obedience. It can range from a mildly playful retort to a sharply critical or mocking response, conveying a tone of cheekiness, impertinence, or insubordination, often aimed at provoking or irritating the recipient. It differentiates from a casual disagreement through its deliberate rudeness and lack of respect for the other person's position or feelings.
Sassed meaning with examples
- The teenager sassed her mother when asked to clean her room, rolling her eyes and muttering under her breath. Her disrespectful attitude earned her an immediate grounding. Her sassy response led to a heated argument, and reinforced her mother's feelings of exhaustion.
- During the meeting, the junior employee sassed the CEO about his presentation, pointing out multiple flaws in the data analysis. His audacity surprised everyone, and he quickly realized that there were negative repercussions for his actions. He should have kept his opinion to himself.
- When the teacher told him to sit down, the student sassed back with a sarcastic comment about his lack of authority. This disrespectful behavior got him sent to the principal’s office and also led to him missing the exciting school trip to the amusement park.
- The little girl sassed her older brother when he told her to turn off the television, using a defiant tone and rolling her eyes at him. She knew she was being rude, but she couldn't resist a small amount of defiance. It was only moments before a stern warning came from her mother.