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 Vines have grown through the fence and barbed wire surrounding a tall art deco building in this city’s downtown, and cigarette holders and empty food tins litter the tall weeds. — Susan Svrluga, Washington Post, 24 June 2026 What happened to his barbed humanistic wit? — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 June 2026 South Korean soldiers patrol along a barbed wire fence Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea, on the South Korean island of Ganghwa, in a April 23, 2020 file photo. — CBS News, 24 June 2026 Over the decades the O’odham placed some barbed wire along the border to keep livestock from straying into the neighboring country, limiting the spread of maladies such as foot-and-mouth disease and hindering cattle thieves. — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
  1. satiric
  2. sarcastic
  3. acidic
  4. acid
  5. biting
Adjective
  • The script for the video was written by Casale and his longtime friend Max Papeschi, an Italian satirical artist.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • Staff members of the satirical magazine Leman are on trial on charges of inciting hatred over a cartoon published last year that features the Prophet Mohammed and Moses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • Another way to say this is that, in place of the extensive self-announcements Plato allows his characters, Rochester substitutes his own summary judgements, his sarcastic imitations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • This is taken as evidence of his status, not a sarcastic criticism.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Third, adding synthetic fertilizer makes soil more acidic, which can inhibit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and mycelial development.
    — Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Baking soda works by absorbing odors and neutralizing musty, acidic smells from mildew, mold, and bacteria.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • Controlling the temperature protects the battery’s internal chemistry from acid buildup and long-term damage.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
  • Scotto highlighted that Kinetik has purpose-built its system for sour gas handling, giving it an edge over new competitors that may face permitting delays of at least three years to build acid gas injection wells.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 21 June 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • 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
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting

Browse Nearby Words

barbecues
barbed
barber
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Cite this Entry

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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