barb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of Askell’s most striking traits is her protectiveness over Claude, which she believes is learning that users often want to trick it into making mistakes, insult it and barb it with skepticism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Reba’s dig at Stracke’s son was the sort of casual, unthinking barb that plenty of Southern mothers have perfected, tossed into a group conversation as nonchalantly as a request for sweet tea.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2025

Lennon riposte was How Do You Sleep? on the Imagine album, with its barb "The only thing you done was yesterday / And since you've gone you're just another day."

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2024

Each word might spring the narrator into a new scene or tangent — or serve as a barb to hang her up for a page or paragraph.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2023

Then she could see the smaller structures—dust and barb and cell.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill