Synonyms for barbed

Most common

prickly · thorny · spiny · bristly · biting · pungent · jaggered

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Having barbs.

2. adj. 2

   Having barbs of a certain colour (as or similar to an arrow); beared.

Related words

Phrases

barbed wire

Example sentences

• prickly A thistle is like a prickly person, lots of spines.
• thorny For giraffes, the thorny acacia leaves are a feast.
• spiny I'm allergic to Japanese spiny lobster.
• biting You don't have to play outside in the biting wind.
• pungent Pungent fumes arose from the chemical mixture.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters

spiny², burry²

6 letters

biting², thorny², setose, briery

7 letters

bearded², prickly², pungent², nipping², bristly

8 letters

bristled², jaggered

9 letters

setaceous

10 letters

barbellate, mordacious

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (spiny² = 2 syllables).