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
The drama around the game’s in-state matchup built in the weeks leading up to the contest, as the teams and their fan bases traded barbs.
—
Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Oracle and Amazon had exchanged barbs for years.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024
Drake smarted at the callout, and the two would trade subliminal barbs back and forth on-and-off-record for years to follow.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024
Democrats and Republicans were back to trading barbs this week as both parties tried to evade blame for a near government shut down.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Healy and Banks began trading barbs last week after Healy criticized her over her post commenting on Charli XCX’s appearance.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro were among the great comedic duos of '90s television, trading barbs and committing hijinks Monday nights on NBC in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024
Occasional political barbs are folded in the tracklist, albeit a little more subtle than those found on Some Time in New York City.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
The core cast gathers around the table to trade barbs over a Thanksgiving meal gone wrong and offers viewers a look at a family of friends together for the holiday.
—Allison Sadlier, EW.com, 26 Nov. 2024
Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Oracle and Amazon had exchanged barbs for years.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024
Drake smarted at the callout, and the two would trade subliminal barbs back and forth on-and-off-record for years to follow.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024
Democrats and Republicans were back to trading barbs this week as both parties tried to evade blame for a near government shut down.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Healy and Banks began trading barbs last week after Healy criticized her over her post commenting on Charli XCX’s appearance.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro were among the great comedic duos of '90s television, trading barbs and committing hijinks Monday nights on NBC in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024
Occasional political barbs are folded in the tracklist, albeit a little more subtle than those found on Some Time in New York City.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
The core cast gathers around the table to trade barbs over a Thanksgiving meal gone wrong and offers viewers a look at a family of friends together for the holiday.
—Allison Sadlier, EW.com, 26 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Barbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barbs. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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