as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
delivered one last barb to his ex-girlfriend as he stalked away
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 barb
After the San Antonio Spurs ruled out Victor Wembanyama for the second half of Tuesday night’s playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers with a head injury, the companies traded barbs on social media.
—
Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
There has been a fierce legal battle, dueling memoirs, and sharp barbs in the press.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
The script, written by Lowery, is filled with aphoristic barbs, especially from Sam.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
LAist climate reporter Erin Stone, who was recently wounded by stingray’s barb herself, writes that warming waters attract more rays and make these painful encounters more likely.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barb
Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
There has been a fierce legal battle, dueling memoirs, and sharp barbs in the press.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
The script, written by Lowery, is filled with aphoristic barbs, especially from Sam.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
LAist climate reporter Erin Stone, who was recently wounded by stingray’s barb herself, writes that warming waters attract more rays and make these painful encounters more likely.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barb
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Played with blistering sarcasm by Emily Blunt, the high-strung Runway magazine assistant had many of the most crackling one-liners in the original 2006 film.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barb. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
