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barbed Definition

barbed (bärbd)

adjective

  1. having a barb or barbs
  2. stinging; cutting barbed words
barbed Synonyms

barbed

modif.

pointed, spiked, piercing; see sharp 2.

barbed Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • wire: The latter also had two strands of barbed wire strung along the top.
  • entanglement: On the highways hundreds of Germans met their end on the barbed wire entanglements.
  • fence: Showing an African farmer tying lengths of wool to a barbed wire fence.
  • hook: Three barbed metal hooks are tied together with wrapping of metal wire.
  • fencing: I had to sneak around all the barbed wire fencing.
  • wit: No aspect of modern life was safe from Mr Wheen's barbed wit.

Modifying Another Word

  • often: Many catfish and some other species have sharp spines ( often barbed ) on their fins.
  • only: Even the lizards had gone on holiday to escape the furnace heat, leaving only barbed wire bushes and a tap 500 yds away.
  • not: For the same reason, the Gripple can be used to tension a length of plain wire, but not barbed wire or netting.