1
: having barbs
2
: characterized by pointed and biting criticism or sarcasm
barbed witticisms

Examples of barbed in a Sentence

The candidates exchanged barbed comments during the debate. barbed satire on American academia
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One woman applied a dolphin design to her face; one of the men in the group got a barbed wire design running across his neck; while the pick of the bunch saw another of the guys opt for an Illuminati-style pyramid tattoo on his forehead. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024 Under the glaring sun, people poured toward the notorious facility north of Damascus, as traffic stretched for miles and some left their cars to walk the last stretch uphill, past barbed wire fences and watchtowers. Clarissa Ward, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024 The doll’s custom packaging showcases illustrations of Karol G in the iconic Bratz style, complete with an iridescent barbed wire display. Ingrid Fajardo, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2024 Prior to the opening of the trail, the site of the northern headquarters of the 40,000-acre cattle ranch operation was little more than a few acres of nameless bullet-riddled stuff wrapped in a tangle of barbed wire. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for barbed 

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbed was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near barbed

Cite this Entry

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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