barbed

/'bɑ:bd/
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barbed

A gardener carefully trims a barbed rose bush.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Having sharp points or projections: Describes something that is equipped with or covered in barbs, spines, thorns, or similar sharp, often backward-pointing, protrusions.
    • Intended to hurt or criticize; cutting: Describes a remark, comment, or tone that is sharp, critical, and designed to wound emotionally or intellectually.
Usage and Examples

  • Adjective (Physical Sharpness):

    • The fence was made of barbed wire to keep the livestock from wandering.
    • He carefully avoided the barbed branches of the blackberry bush.

  • Adjective (Critical Remark):

    • Her barbed comment about his work left him feeling insulted.
    • The review was filled with barbed wit, amusing readers but stinging its subject.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "Barbed" in a metaphorical sense often implies a deliberate intent to cause a sharp, stinging effect, similar to a physical barb that is difficult to remove.
    • Their conversation was a series of barbed exchanges, each trying to outdo the other in sarcasm.
Variants and Related Words
  • Barb (noun): The sharp projection itself, such as on a fishhook, arrow, or feather; also, a critical remark.
    • The hook's barb made it hard to remove from the fish's mouth.
  • Barbed wire (noun phrase): A type of fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points at intervals.
    • The perimeter was secured with barbed wire.
Synonyms
  • Spiny, prickly, thorny (for the physical sense).
  • Cutting, biting, caustic, acerbic, sarcastic, pungent (for the critical sense).
Antonyms
  • Smooth, blunt (for the physical sense).
  • Kind, complimentary, gentle, mild (for the critical sense).
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Barbed wire: As a compound noun, this is the most common collocation.
    • The prison yard was surrounded by a high fence topped with barbed wire.
  • Barbed remark/compliment: A standard phrasing for a critical or backhanded comment.
    • He paid her a barbed compliment, saying her presentation was "surprisingly coherent."
barbed

A gardener carefully trims a barbed rose bush.

Adjective
  1. having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
    • a horse with a short bristly mane
    • bristly shrubs
    • burred fruits
    • setaceous whiskers
  2. capable of wounding
    • a barbed compliment
    • a biting aphorism
    • pungent satire

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