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 Taking selfies in the cradle of the atom bomb By Ross Andersen At a gate topped by barbed wire just north of White Sands Missile Range, a miles-long line of vehicles formed before dawn on Saturday. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024 Panama installs barbed wire to block migrants traveling through the Darién Gap But not every video paints a rosy picture. Kunal Sehgal, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024 It is believed that the escapees allegedly kicked down a steel door before scaling a barbed wire fence, according to officials. Christina Shaw, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024 First Lady Pat Nixon presided over the park’s dedication in 1971, crossing a barbed wire fence that separated the two countries to greet cheering Mexicans on the other side. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for barbed 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barbed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbed was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near barbed

Cite this Entry

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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