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
The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.
—
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
The vast majority of animals brought to the hospital — as many as 60% to 80% of admissions — are victims of road collisions, animals caught in barbed wire or injured by people using gardening tools or agricultural machinery, among other causes linked to human activity, Courreau said.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
But when classes resumed this week for the first time since the Iran war began, coiled barbed wire blocked the Palestinian siblings’ path to the village center.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Nyuyen’s compound was surrounded by a 12-ft wall of barbed wire and guard posts.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
The vast majority of animals brought to the hospital — as many as 60% to 80% of admissions — are victims of road collisions, animals caught in barbed wire or injured by people using gardening tools or agricultural machinery, among other causes linked to human activity, Courreau said.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
But when classes resumed this week for the first time since the Iran war began, coiled barbed wire blocked the Palestinian siblings’ path to the village center.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Nyuyen’s compound was surrounded by a 12-ft wall of barbed wire and guard posts.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
Adjective
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Part satirical, part political, the BAFTA-winning film and subsequent album, Fine Art — a level up from their 2018 Irish-language mixtape 3CAG — solidified Kneecap’s place in music, earning them fans worldwide who come out in droves to their gigs and turning them into a popular festival draw.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
6 May 2026
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The Boys is an American satirical dark comedy television show that flips the conventional superhero narrative on its head by imagining a society where superpowers are abused for influence and profit.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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In addition to Miranda's scathing remarks to Andy (Anne Hathaway) while trying to complete seemingly impossible tasks, Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) taught her how to navigate office politics with their own sarcastic comments.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
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Middle of Nowhere’s Kacey is witty, a bit sarcastic, alternately ecstatic and frustrated but always ready to entertain.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Avoid using vinegar and other acidic cleaners to clean glass doors in showers with natural stone because the acidity can etch or damage the finish.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
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Sodium bisulfate is an acidic salt often used to lower pH in swimming pools, spas and industrial water systems, and is also used in metal finishing, food processing, cleaning products and sanitizing.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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If choosing wines, focus on bright, higher-acid white wines that cut through the mouth-coating fattiness of cheese.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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This summery salad is a lesson in salt, fat, acid, and heat.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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