as in shouting
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 barking
Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Varland endeared himself to the fanbase with his electric stuff and habit of barking at teammates, cameras and anyone in sight.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Chonkers showed up in early March at San Francisco’s Pier 39, where floating docks of barking sea lions regularly draw admiring crowds.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
They were alerted when one of the two suspects allegedly tried to open the back door of the home but ran from the area after one of the homeowner's dogs started barking inside.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of barking, and suddenly the big fella hops onto the wood platform, sending the other pinnipeds jostling for a new spot in the sun or diving back into the water.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Chonkers barking, with a crowd gathered around the railing.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Loose pucks When Jeremy Swayman was pulled in the third period Sunday, he was seen barking at his teammates on the bench.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
Rather than barking, jumping or making a scene, the goldendoodle used a deliberate shoulder tap — a physical gesture that resembled how a person might get someone’s attention — and then waited patiently for the woman to respond.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
From the ungodly stuff leading to success, to setting a postseason record for appearances, to barking like a dog to fire up teammates, Varland is settling in.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Varland endeared himself to the fanbase with his electric stuff and habit of barking at teammates, cameras and anyone in sight.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Chonkers showed up in early March at San Francisco’s Pier 39, where floating docks of barking sea lions regularly draw admiring crowds.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
They were alerted when one of the two suspects allegedly tried to open the back door of the home but ran from the area after one of the homeowner's dogs started barking inside.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
There’s a lot of barking, and suddenly the big fella hops onto the wood platform, sending the other pinnipeds jostling for a new spot in the sun or diving back into the water.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Chonkers barking, with a crowd gathered around the railing.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Loose pucks When Jeremy Swayman was pulled in the third period Sunday, he was seen barking at his teammates on the bench.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
Rather than barking, jumping or making a scene, the goldendoodle used a deliberate shoulder tap — a physical gesture that resembled how a person might get someone’s attention — and then waited patiently for the woman to respond.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barking. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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