1
: having barbs
2
: characterized by pointed and biting criticism or sarcasm
barbed witticisms
Synonyms
Examples of barbed in a Sentence
The candidates exchanged barbed comments during the debate.
barbed satire on American academia
Recent Examples on the Web
Weeks later, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the U.S. behind riot barriers, barbed wire, and under the eyes of more than 25,000 national guard troops.
—
Tess Owen, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
The bill aims to halt further expansion of a controversial 8-foot-tall fence topped with barbed wire that the owner of Cielo Vista Ranch is building in the San Luis Valley.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2025
In order to get the president into custody, Seoul investigators scaled barricades and cut through barbed wire to reach his residence, as reported by BBC News.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For example, Houston artist Mel Chin fabricated a saddle out of barbed wire to represent the colonization and enslavement of native people.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for barbed 
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Tess Owen, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2025
The bill aims to halt further expansion of a controversial 8-foot-tall fence topped with barbed wire that the owner of Cielo Vista Ranch is building in the San Luis Valley.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2025
In order to get the president into custody, Seoul investigators scaled barricades and cut through barbed wire to reach his residence, as reported by BBC News.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
For example, Houston artist Mel Chin fabricated a saddle out of barbed wire to represent the colonization and enslavement of native people.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for barbed
Dictionary Entries Near barbed
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
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