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
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Nothing flusters her except dogs barking, and as the story unfolds the reason is easily surmised.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Leichman is excited to see what the right-hander can do when his back is not seizing up and his shoulder’s not barking.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Seemingly out of nowhere, a dog appeared and started barking at one of the responding officers.
—Tony Dokoupil, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Joe Musgrove underwent Tommy John surgery before the season started and Yu Darvish’s elbow was barking in spring training.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The trio has great comedic chemistry, with Marissa constantly exchanging witty barbs with Jamie and barking orders at Harper, while the latter two bond over their mutual messiness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
And anyone who has tried to record a podcast while the neighbor has the leaf-blower out or their dog is barking will know that this sort of environmental control saves a whole lot of post-production time and headaches.
—New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026
As Dumars and Byrne, Damon and Affleck are reduced to growling law-enforcement speak, barking into walkie-talkies and carrying out every conversation while at least one hand rests on an automatic weapon—just in case someone bursts through the wall.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Out in the full glare of the riverbank dogs were barking, clothes were drying on the ghat, little boys were playing with marbles, running about with strings, beating along old bicycle tyres with sticks.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Nothing flusters her except dogs barking, and as the story unfolds the reason is easily surmised.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Leichman is excited to see what the right-hander can do when his back is not seizing up and his shoulder’s not barking.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Seemingly out of nowhere, a dog appeared and started barking at one of the responding officers.
—Tony Dokoupil, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Joe Musgrove underwent Tommy John surgery before the season started and Yu Darvish’s elbow was barking in spring training.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The trio has great comedic chemistry, with Marissa constantly exchanging witty barbs with Jamie and barking orders at Harper, while the latter two bond over their mutual messiness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
And anyone who has tried to record a podcast while the neighbor has the leaf-blower out or their dog is barking will know that this sort of environmental control saves a whole lot of post-production time and headaches.
—New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026
As Dumars and Byrne, Damon and Affleck are reduced to growling law-enforcement speak, barking into walkie-talkies and carrying out every conversation while at least one hand rests on an automatic weapon—just in case someone bursts through the wall.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barking. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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