as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
barbed satire on American academia
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbed
His body was found three days later in the Tallahatchie River, weighted down by a metal fan tied around his neck with barbed wire.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
But barbed comments from strangers may be ignored, and nosy questions may be deflected.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
One immediate effect of that chaos was Jessica Capshaw’s Blythe being knocked from her horse and thrown into a barbed wire fence, then left passed out and bleeding in the wild.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025
After an initial flurry of barbed statements and rebuttals, the two companies have settled into a less-vocal posture.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
But barbed comments from strangers may be ignored, and nosy questions may be deflected.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
One immediate effect of that chaos was Jessica Capshaw’s Blythe being knocked from her horse and thrown into a barbed wire fence, then left passed out and bleeding in the wild.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025
After an initial flurry of barbed statements and rebuttals, the two companies have settled into a less-vocal posture.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
Adjective
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But it’s set apart from the rest of her work by a long, satirical section sending up gothic fiction and its fans.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Past statements or e-mails can be taken out of context, with dangerous results, so carefully phrase your statements in board meetings or in e-mails, — and avoid intemperate or sarcastic remarks.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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It was greeted by the sound of loud, sarcastic cheering by the old London Road end and by Malcolm Shotton, Oxford’s moustachioed coach, who could have used the Pringles logo as a passport photo, throwing his jacket into the crowd in sarcastic celebration.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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How to Clean Baking Sheets With Vinegar Vinegar is an acidic ingredient that can cut through grease and lift stains.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
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The acidic properties of this inexpensive, nontoxic, and eco-friendly household cleaner help to break down grease, loosen dried-on food, and neutralize funky odors.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Savannah police and the FBI are continuing to follow any possible leads to find whoever is responsible for the acid attack in a local park that left a woman with severe burns.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2025
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If acid soil-loving plants are not thriving, have the soil tested and amend the pH with elemental sulfur.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
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The conservative activist’s 42-minute video posted the day after Christmas quickly spread, prompting stepped up immigration enforcement, frozen federal funds and more biting rhetoric against the Somali community from President Donald Trump.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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