barbed meaning and definition

BARBED adjective

Definition of barbed (adjective)

1. capable of wounding
   • "a barbed compliment"; "a biting aphorism"; "pungent satire"
   • synonyms: biting, mordacious, nipping, pungent
2. 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"
   • synonyms: barbellate, briary, briery, bristled, bristly, burred, burry, prickly, setaceous, setose, spiny, thorny