1
: having a sharp point that sticks out and backward from a larger point : having a barb
a barbed fishhook
2
: expressing criticism in an unkind and often clever way
The candidates exchanged barbed comments during the debate.
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“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/barbed. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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