retort vs sass

retort and sass both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
retort	Yes	No	Yes	No
sass	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, sass is a hyponym of retort; that is, sass is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than retort:

retort: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
sass: an impudent or insolent rejoinder

Other hyponyms of retort include back talk, backtalk, lip, mouth, sassing.

retort (noun)	sass (noun)
a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat	an impudent or insolent rejoinder
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

retort (verb)	sass (verb)
answer back	answer back in an impudent or insolent manner