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
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Recent Examples of barbs
As Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hepburn is at her theatrical best, trading barbs with estranged husband King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) and their sons over a chaotic Christmas gathering.
—
Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
There are campaign posters, a jingle blaring over loudspeakers, television cameras, lots of handshakes and selfies, and, of course, a stump speech full of pledges as well as barbs for the rival candidate.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
A couple of power players are trading barbs in a Chinese restaurant.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
And Harvey Gough is no longer slinging burgers and barbs from behind the counter.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
This columnist grew up there too and still calls the Inland Empire home, and those barbs do not and will not go unchallenged.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Comments that once elicited antagonistic barbs are met with calm acceptance.
—Jon Wiederhorn, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Public details of the negotiations have been minimal, but both sides have traded barbs over the impasse.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2026
From Callum Turner‘s cheekbones and Fanning’s wide eyes to Keough’s legs and Lukas Gage’s curls, beauty strikes at every turn, yet barely conceals the barbs and thorns such looks envelop here.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
There are campaign posters, a jingle blaring over loudspeakers, television cameras, lots of handshakes and selfies, and, of course, a stump speech full of pledges as well as barbs for the rival candidate.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
A couple of power players are trading barbs in a Chinese restaurant.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
And Harvey Gough is no longer slinging burgers and barbs from behind the counter.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
This columnist grew up there too and still calls the Inland Empire home, and those barbs do not and will not go unchallenged.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Comments that once elicited antagonistic barbs are met with calm acceptance.
—Jon Wiederhorn, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Public details of the negotiations have been minimal, but both sides have traded barbs over the impasse.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2026
From Callum Turner‘s cheekbones and Fanning’s wide eyes to Keough’s legs and Lukas Gage’s curls, beauty strikes at every turn, yet barely conceals the barbs and thorns such looks envelop here.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barbs
Noun
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Using obscene or abusive language Any use of profanity, insults or abusive language is prohibited under the FDCPA.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Please don't waste my time filling up the mailbox with big shiny cards that scream doomsday insults about your opponents.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbs. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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