What does parried mean?
Parried means turned aside or blocked, especially when used of a person avoiding an attack with a weapon or another defensive movement. The word is also commonly used figuratively to describe someone who deflects a question, criticism, or troublesome issue. In physical contexts, a successful parry is a controlled defensive action that may also create an opportunity for a counterattack. In discussion and journalism, to parry a question often implies that the questioner has been evaded, though the action can also suggest a swift and skilled response rather than a direct admission of ignorance. The verb is transitive, as in “parry a blow,” and can also be used intransitively. Its past tense and past participle share the same form, parried, while the base form is parry. The word conveys precision, agility, and defensiveness, making it useful both for vivid descriptions of conflict and for precise accounts of verbal exchanges.
verbTo turn aside a blow or thrust, especially with a weapon or by a defensive movement. By extension, to evade or cleverly avoid a question, criticism, or difficulty.
- To turn aside or block a blow, thrust, or attack.
- To evade a question, criticism, or difficult issue.
"The boxer slipped to one side and parried his opponent's wild swing."
"She parried the ball with her racket and returned it down the court."
"The minister smoothly parried questions about the unexplained spending."
One sword move can change the course of a fight: a well-timed parry turns an opponent's attack into an opening.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parried come from?
The word comes through French parer, meaning “to ward off,” from Italian parare, “to defend or ward off.” Italian parare derives from Latin parare, meaning “to prepare, arrange, or set up,” reflecting the defensive action of arranging a weapon to meet an attack. Several English words ultimately associated with Latin parare, including prepare, repair, and parade, preserve elements of that broader root.
Related word forms
How parried is actually used
The verb is common in both physical-combat descriptions and figurative uses involving questions, objections, or difficulties. In figurative contexts, it often suggests that the issue or question has been avoided rather than answered directly.
Easily confused with parried
To parry is to turn aside an attack or avoid a question, whereas to parley is to discuss terms, usually with an opponent.