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barbed

adjective

ˈbärbd How to pronounce barbed (audio)
Definition of barbednext
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

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.
Recent Examples of barbed Light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs and a barbed wire table all made an appearance. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Instead of trying to locate bears in the wild, the survey relies on hair samples collected in barbed wire traps, which can be used to identify individual bears based on their DNA. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 To simulate thwarting advances by enemy forces using the bridge, soldiers erected layers of barriers and rolled barbed wire. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Another drone created a smoke screen while still more blasted through triple-layered barbed wire. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
  1. satiric
  2. sarcastic
  3. acidic
  4. acid
  5. biting
Adjective
  • Firstman rose to fame during the pandemic through is viral satirical impression videos on Instagram.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Waugh on his turn from satirical humorist to dark inquisitor of the human condition is in full effect here.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The sarcastic Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and affable actor Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) are among her favorite characters.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Editor Cam McLauchlin never cuts them into mere blitzes of limbs and blood, though DP Katelin Arizmendi’s acidic palette of yellows, greens and corporeal streaks of red does lend the realism a kind of pop-art splendor.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Black gum will adapt to most soil conditions, but must be planted in acidic soil.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In a sequencer that resembled a large fridge, millions of short nucleic-acid fragments would be identified in the span of ten hours.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of biting

Browse Nearby Words

barbecues
barbed
barber
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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