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
Only those working at the listening station (kept separate from the rest of the compound with barbed wire and a guard shack) knew what was really going on.
—
A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share