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
Rounded up and imprisoned in barbed wire prison camps in some of the most hellish places and most desolate places in the country.
—
Abc News, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
The book, illustrated by Michelle Lee, recounts other emotional moments, including how Takei learned to say the Pledge of Allegiance while surrounded by barbed wire and soldiers on guard.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Left behind among the piles of trash are clotheslines made from barbed wire.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Behind barbed wire and watchtowers, the ancient treasures remained there for decades, despite a few armed break-ins over the years.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
This is a problem that is not going to be solved by putting guards on the border or barbed wire.
—Albinson Linares, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Biden’s barbed references to Trump were all about the former President’s offenses to American democracy.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024
Director Jonathan Glazer leans heavily on the chilling sounds from inside the camp that echo incessantly as the Höss family build their dream home, which sits on the other side of the concentration camp’s barbed wire fence.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Almost 4 feet tall and nearly 8 feet wide, the plane is wrapped in a strict grid of barbed wire.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Abc News, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
The book, illustrated by Michelle Lee, recounts other emotional moments, including how Takei learned to say the Pledge of Allegiance while surrounded by barbed wire and soldiers on guard.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Left behind among the piles of trash are clotheslines made from barbed wire.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Behind barbed wire and watchtowers, the ancient treasures remained there for decades, despite a few armed break-ins over the years.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
This is a problem that is not going to be solved by putting guards on the border or barbed wire.
—Albinson Linares, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Biden’s barbed references to Trump were all about the former President’s offenses to American democracy.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024
Director Jonathan Glazer leans heavily on the chilling sounds from inside the camp that echo incessantly as the Höss family build their dream home, which sits on the other side of the concentration camp’s barbed wire fence.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Almost 4 feet tall and nearly 8 feet wide, the plane is wrapped in a strict grid of barbed wire.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barbed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near barbed
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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