as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
barbed satire on American academia
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbed
Nyuyen’s compound was surrounded by a 12-ft wall of barbed wire and guard posts.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
Tangled pieces of barbed wire, reams of rubble and fallen concrete scarred the skyline in Karaj, western Iran, on Friday, after the US military bombed a major new bridge under construction.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
The fuzzy-looking crawlers can cause irritation and a rash to anyone whose skin comes in direct contact with the barbed hairs that cover the caterpillar.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Page used barbed wire wrapped around a chair to bust MJF open and hit a Deadeye through a table.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
Tangled pieces of barbed wire, reams of rubble and fallen concrete scarred the skyline in Karaj, western Iran, on Friday, after the US military bombed a major new bridge under construction.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
The fuzzy-looking crawlers can cause irritation and a rash to anyone whose skin comes in direct contact with the barbed hairs that cover the caterpillar.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Page used barbed wire wrapped around a chair to bust MJF open and hit a Deadeye through a table.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barbed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbed
Adjective
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Advertisement How the shooting unfolded The WHCA dinner is an annual event for White House staff and the press, typically featuring comedy and a satirical speech from the president.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
26 Apr. 2026
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Now, the 67-year-old is taking on Broadway in The Balusters, a satirical comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Kenny Leon.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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Peters then offered a sarcastic parting line and left the set.—
Ryan Brennan
April 15,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In some parts of the world, rivers near cobalt and copper mines have become so acidic that communities can no longer drink water from them.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Ideally, lavender should be grown in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline, but never acidic.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If choosing wines, focus on bright, higher-acid white wines that cut through the mouth-coating fattiness of cheese.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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This summery salad is a lesson in salt, fat, acid, and heat.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
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The 2019 image of the peanut-chomping envoy quickly went viral, begetting a biting social-media hashtag: #LordCacahuates (Lord Peanuts).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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