clapping back
sharp, effective
the one-line answer
Responding sharply and effectively to criticism or an attack.
Clapping back means you responded to an attack with an effective counter. You did not absorb it. You returned fire.
mainstream
Your coworker might use this word.
01 / in the wild
hear it move.
impressed
she clapped back immediately. shut it all the way down.
She responded to the criticism sharply and effectively.