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.
The center was built in eight days and features more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel. arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025 Their prescription, Scaramucci warns, threatens to replace the American dream with a society where a small elite lives behind barbed wire in mansions, and ordinary people struggle for a decent living. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 July 2025 But reminders of past pains linger — a fence still stretches across a large swath of the park’s borders, topped in one section by barbed wire and with a new gate installed to halt entry outside of park hours. Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 More than 400 security personnel will be staffing the facility, which has 28,000-plus square feet of barbed wire. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbed. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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