Something cheeky, maybe, shown in genuine counter-argument (8)
I believe the answer is:
rebuttal
'counter-argument' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rebuttal that I've seen before include "Disproof" , "counterclaim" , "Confutation" , "Answer" , "Denial" .)