BARBED Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

barbed

adjective

ˈbärbd

Definition of barbed

as in satiric

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings barbed satire on American academia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of barbed Their long, barbed tongues can easily wind into ant and termite homes, licking up the bugs inside. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 The state oversees different types of facilities for kids in the justice system, ranging in security level from group homes to prisons surrounded by barbed wire. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 25 Sep. 2026 Which is to say, this is more a barbed comedy of manners than a proper, elegant period piece. — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026 There are plenty of Ostalgie museums in today’s united Germany, furnished with memorabilia of the German Democratic Republic, from twigs of barbed wire to Trabant gearboxes. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barbed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed

Adjective

In his essay, Baron Cohen says that’s the point, because the character is a satirical figure designed to expose prejudice.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Riehle played Tom Smykowski, a cynical Initech product manager, in Mike Judge’s 1999 satirical comedy Office Space, sharing credits with Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root and Gary Cole.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of satiric

Adjective

Eidra pushes her tendency to get glib and sarcastic rather than risk being vulnerable and honest to its farthest limits.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
The interest has been driven largely by the brand's casual, sarcastic tone and active participation in online trends.

— Megan Sauer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Adjective

Equatic pumps seawater through an electrolyzer, where an electric current passes through a sandwich of plastic and metal plates and separates the water into two streams, one alkaline and one acidic, while also producing oxygen and hydrogen.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Under alkaline conditions, splitting water molecules takes over 100 times longer than in acidic environments.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of acidic

Adjective

Whatever your pleasure, there’s no wrong way to take an acid trip.

— Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of acid

Adjective

Her version is louder and more biting, but never at the sacrifice of the track’s spirit.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of biting

Browse Nearby Words

barbecues

barbed

barber

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of barbed

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes