1
: having barbs
2
: characterized by pointed and biting criticism or sarcasm
barbed witticisms
Examples of barbed in a Sentence
The candidates exchanged barbed comments during the debate.
barbed satire on American academia
Recent Examples on the Web
No one else writes with such wounding, barbed wit.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Thailand says the barbed wire was set up to prevent the planting of mines and is on its own land.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
There was no hand grenade lobbed in the manner of Alexander Isak on Tuesday, a barbed statement that deepens his isolation on Tyneside.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Vintage Sedan, for instance, introduces us to a trespassing bird-watcher who has cut his leg on rusty barbed wire.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025
Thailand says the barbed wire was set up to prevent the planting of mines and is on its own land.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
There was no hand grenade lobbed in the manner of Alexander Isak on Tuesday, a barbed statement that deepens his isolation on Tyneside.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Vintage Sedan, for instance, introduces us to a trespassing bird-watcher who has cut his leg on rusty barbed wire.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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