50 People Who Delivered Comebacks So Brutally Genius, Even Their Enemies Laughed (New Pics)

Grab your aloe, your lotion, and maybe even a fan. Because things are about to get scorching.

Welcome to the world of clever insults, where wit meets savagery in the most unexpectedly hilarious ways. They come straight from the Rare Insults subreddit, a place where internet users gather the sharpest jabs, wittiest comebacks, and most poetic takedowns ever seen online.

We’ve rounded up some of the best to share with you. So scroll down, admire the craftsmanship, and maybe even take notes—these burns are too good to waste.

#1 Also Zero Jail Time

#2 You Don’t Have To Pay For It

Insults can come in many forms, but just because words don’t leave visible marks doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch.

In fact, a well-aimed verbal jab can haunt you for years—like those 3 a.m. memories that crawl back when you can’t sleep, reminding you of that joke a classmate made at your expense in 7th grade.

#3 Some People Actually Need Reality Checks More Than Anything Else!

#4 Get Them Off Their High Horse

In the long term, these put-downs can chip away at our confidence and happiness, explains Neel Burton, a psychiatrist, philosopher, and writer, in a piece for Psychology Today. Even casual digs and microaggressions can, over time, lead to feelings of isolation, anger, anxiety, and depression.

#5 A Rare Insult Underneath A Rare Insult

#6 Nahh That’s Crazy

#7 Captain Vietnam

So while it’s entertaining to watch someone else deliver a savage comeback, it’s a different story when we’re the ones on the receiving end. How do we handle it?

Burton outlines six options to consider:

AngerAcceptanceReturning the insultHumorIgnoring the insultRebuking the insulter #8 Musk Insults Are Always Funny

#9 Homeschooled By A Pigeon

#10 Ended His Papacy Right There

Let’s break them down.

Anger, according to Burton, is actually a weak response to an insult.

Because it shows that we take the insult, and therefore the insulter, seriously. It implies we believe there might be some truth to what was said. Plus, it throws us off balance, which not only feels awful but can also encourage more insults to come our way.

So while it’s natural to feel hurt, letting rage take over doesn’t exactly look cool.

#11 Who’s A Good Boy?

#12 And Go Where?

#13 I Can Confirm That This Is True

Acceptance might seem like the weaker choice, yet Burton believes it’s actually the most powerful way to respond.

“If the insult is true or largely true, the person it came from is reasonable, and his or her motive is worthy, then the insult is not an insult but a statement of fact, and, moreover, one that could be very helpful to us,” he says.

It might actually help us grow if we’re open to constructive criticism.

“On the other hand, if you think that the person who insulted you is unworthy of your consideration, you have no reason to take offence, just as you have no reason to take offence at a naughty child or a barking dog,” Burton says.

#14 She Got Cooked

#15 Insults Are Best Served Cold

#16 Shots Have Been Fired

Then there’s the classic move: returning the insult.

A sharp comeback can feel satisfying, but to land well, it needs to be clever and quick. Burton reminds us, however, that trading insults puts us on the same level as the insulter:

Doing this gives them, their actions, and their words more importance than they deserve. Firing back can also hurt the other person (who’s likely pretty sensitive) and might lead to even more back-and-forth.

That said, if you can spin it with humor, it can lighten the moment without turning it into a fight. Humor defuses tension while undercutting the sting of the insult, and it doesn’t have to be a direct hit back.

#17 Gotta Respect The Culture

#18 Don’t Belittle The Imp

#19 Andrew’s Tate’s Delusions Meet Their Fate

Of course, there’s always the option to ignore the insult, whether that means keeping a straight face, closing the tab, or blocking the person entirely. Showing that it didn’t matter to you can be the most powerful statement of all.

However, ignoring isn’t always the best approach, especially in professional settings. In these cases, it’s often better to have a calm but firm conversation to reassert your boundaries.

#20 Damn Girl

#21 A Double-Ended Rarity

#22 Where Is The Lie?

Ignoring the insult works well with strangers but may not be a sensible or viable strategy when it comes to people with whom we have an ongoing personal or professional relationship. In such cases, it may be preferable to “have a quiet word” in a bid to reassert our boundaries.

#23 The Last Man Standing(With Hair)

#24 They Would Whistle

#25 On A Post Regarding Power Outlets

And at the end of the day, we don’t have to take offence at an insult at all.

“Offence exists not in the insult but in our reaction to it, and our reactions are completely within our control. It is unreasonable to expect a boor to be anything but a boor; if we take offence at his bad behavior, we have only ourselves to blame,” says Burton.

So whether you’re watching someone deliver a clever insult online or dealing with one yourself, remember: the real power lies in how you choose to respond.

#26 What A Revelation