as in insults
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barbs
The candidates in the crowded field have traded barbs about Bores’ supposed ties to Big Tech and outside groups have poured millions into the race both supporting and opposing his proposals to regulate artificial intelligence.
—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Young, who was traded to the Washington Wizards in January, is no stranger to trading barbs on social media with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
—
Chantz Martin Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Always check the rules in conservation trout water and be prepared to mash barbs or swap your treble hooks with single hooks to stay compliant.
—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
The tenacious ex–Special Forces vet can be found tracking killers and trading barbs with his partner Jerry (Jamie Hector) in this long-running series drawn from Michael Connelly’s crime novels.
—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
And in his second term, the leaders now openly trade barbs, disagreeing over tariffs, Ukraine and the Iran war.
—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Its barbs are muddy brown with faint metallic highlights.
—
Douglas Goodwin,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
Pledges of a united front fade as the booze flows and the barbs get sharper and sharper.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Despite the barbs flying Tuesday, the Democrat AGs implied in their letter that their agencies and federal law enforcement continue to collaborate on fraud investigations.
—
Andrew Graham
may 27,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Young, who was traded to the Washington Wizards in January, is no stranger to trading barbs on social media with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
—
Chantz Martin Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Always check the rules in conservation trout water and be prepared to mash barbs or swap your treble hooks with single hooks to stay compliant.
—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
The tenacious ex–Special Forces vet can be found tracking killers and trading barbs with his partner Jerry (Jamie Hector) in this long-running series drawn from Michael Connelly’s crime novels.
—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
And in his second term, the leaders now openly trade barbs, disagreeing over tariffs, Ukraine and the Iran war.
—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Its barbs are muddy brown with faint metallic highlights.
—
Douglas Goodwin,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
Pledges of a united front fade as the booze flows and the barbs get sharper and sharper.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Despite the barbs flying Tuesday, the Democrat AGs implied in their letter that their agencies and federal law enforcement continue to collaborate on fraud investigations.
—
Andrew Graham
may 27,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbs
Noun
-
According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
-
Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
-
First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.
Cite this Entry
“Barbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbs. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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