retort vs sassing

retort and sassing both are nouns.

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

As nouns, sassing is a hyponym of retort; that is, sassing 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)
sassing: an impudent or insolent rejoinder

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

retort (noun)	sassing (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)	sassing (verb)
answer back