1
: having barbs
2
: characterized by pointed and biting criticism or sarcasm
barbed witticisms
Synonyms of barbed
Examples of barbed in a Sentence
The candidates exchanged barbed comments during the debate.
barbed satire on American academia
Recent Examples on the Web
Half of my drawing was in black and white, showing a woman walking away from barbed wire and a prison tower.
—
Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Who knew barbed wire could be so interesting?
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
The group has quite literally been split into two camps, separated by barbed wire, battlements, and corpses.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Known as the Fortress Revenue Collection Lab, the building does look startlingly like a fortress—with barbed wire, barred windows, brick walls, and a central tower.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
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Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Who knew barbed wire could be so interesting?
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
The group has quite literally been split into two camps, separated by barbed wire, battlements, and corpses.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Known as the Fortress Revenue Collection Lab, the building does look startlingly like a fortress—with barbed wire, barred windows, brick walls, and a central tower.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 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 11 Jan. 2026.
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