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
Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
The marsupial escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, a village about 90 miles away from Madison, on March 25, after being frightened by barking dogs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Dog owners are also advised that barking may attract coyotes.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Mar. 2026
In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
While his peers aimed to achieve maximum tension by barking about capitalism over jabbing, if not outright obnoxious, guitars, Shaw scrapped layer after layer—distortion pedals, crash cymbals, eventually the drum machine itself—to crystalize his band’s own sound.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Included in the carousel is footage of Aspen playing with the kids, as well as getting to know the couple’s two other dogs, who do a lot of sniffing and barking.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
At a minimum, my house would be filled with barking, and at a maximum, another dog could be stressed or even possibly hurt.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
The marsupial escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, a village about 90 miles away from Madison, on March 25, after being frightened by barking dogs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Dog owners are also advised that barking may attract coyotes.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Mar. 2026
In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
While his peers aimed to achieve maximum tension by barking about capitalism over jabbing, if not outright obnoxious, guitars, Shaw scrapped layer after layer—distortion pedals, crash cymbals, eventually the drum machine itself—to crystalize his band’s own sound.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
Included in the carousel is footage of Aspen playing with the kids, as well as getting to know the couple’s two other dogs, who do a lot of sniffing and barking.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barking. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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