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
Meanwhile, a story from Indiana explains how one bird species skewers its prey on barbed wire, then returns for it later.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
There are no spools of barbed wire atop its fences or looming guard towers to announce its purpose.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
The pair have traded many barbed comments since Khan was elected to lead London in 2016 — Khan strongly criticized the president the same year for pledging a travel ban on a number of majority-Muslim countries, which was enacted in 2017.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
Protests outside the Broadview facility continued midday Friday, with a handful of demonstrators holding up signs and cellphones toward a fence topped with barbed wire, video from the scene shows.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
There are no spools of barbed wire atop its fences or looming guard towers to announce its purpose.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
The pair have traded many barbed comments since Khan was elected to lead London in 2016 — Khan strongly criticized the president the same year for pledging a travel ban on a number of majority-Muslim countries, which was enacted in 2017.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
Protests outside the Broadview facility continued midday Friday, with a handful of demonstrators holding up signs and cellphones toward a fence topped with barbed wire, video from the scene shows.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
Adjective
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Since that inaugural episode in late July, a steady stream of blistering satirical installments has not let up on the POTUS and key White House officials, from VP JD Vance to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
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Where Tom is the satirical end point of corporate America’s moral rot, Guiteau is like his spiritual predecessor, a 19th-century American striver so intoxicated by the promise of self-making that rejection feels like cosmic betrayal.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Marriage Story star first appeared as a child in an uncredited role in the Scorsese film — Ladd's first taste of major acclaim as the sarcastic waitress Flo.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Nov. 2025
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The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Highly acidic foods like pickles and tomatoes will react with the can after an extended period of time, causing both taste and texture changes so pay particularly close attention to expiration dates on these items.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
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Soil and Water Japanese maple likes a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil with good drainage.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The idea of dissolving the self in an acid bath of erotic imagery was not, in the end, so unappealing.—
Daniel Kolitz,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But usually the administration official doesn’t fight back in such a biting way.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Over nearly three decades, Baumbach has built a career chronicling families in crisis and artists at the crossroads, his films combining biting wit with an unflinching emotional honesty.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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