barbed

Adjective

• 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
    

• capable of wounding
  • a barbed compliment
    
  • a biting aphorism
    
  • pungent satire
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  biting , nipping , pungent , mordacious