as in shouted
to speak sharply or irritably
the new supervisor found that speaking to people with a civil tongue got better results than barking at them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barked
Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Singleton gestured rapidly and barked at his teammates after the play.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The dogs barked from the kitchen.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Another nearby dog has barked since Mancl and his wife moved in four years ago.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Toward the end of his game-winning drive Sunday, Mac Jones received the play from the sideline, barked it to teammates, then turned to one of his two favorite targets on the day, Christian McCaffrey.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Ronson politely demurred the money twice until Combs barked at him with an expletive to take the money.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Near Broadbelt’s home, a very small dog snuck out from behind a fence and barked at reporters on the sidewalk.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Steve’s gun barked almost in my ear, and the sound brought that treetop skirmish to a sudden conclusion.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Cackles, even, as the obnoxiously loud guy sitting behind me barked throughout the show.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Singleton gestured rapidly and barked at his teammates after the play.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
The dogs barked from the kitchen.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Another nearby dog has barked since Mancl and his wife moved in four years ago.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Toward the end of his game-winning drive Sunday, Mac Jones received the play from the sideline, barked it to teammates, then turned to one of his two favorite targets on the day, Christian McCaffrey.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Ronson politely demurred the money twice until Combs barked at him with an expletive to take the money.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Near Broadbelt’s home, a very small dog snuck out from behind a fence and barked at reporters on the sidewalk.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Steve’s gun barked almost in my ear, and the sound brought that treetop skirmish to a sudden conclusion.
—Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Barked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barked. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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