REBARBATIVE Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

rebarbative

adjective

ri-ˈbär-bə-tiv

Definition of rebarbative

as in irritating

causing annoyance there are aspects of that writer's personality that any reasonable person would regard as rebarbative, but we're just reading his novels—not marrying him

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rebarbative Why not place a bet on Tala Madani, whose desultory drawing and wildly rebarbative conceits might have the impact at the Met that artists like Matisse once had in Paris? — Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023 One wonders why a skinny, rebarbative marionette should be getting so much attention. — Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 But Krugman can also sound like a cross between a bloodthirsty Robespierre and a rebarbative GIF. — Sebastian Mallaby, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebarbative

Adjective

For home-office equipment, networking hardware, 3D printers, and other devices where unexpected shutdowns are costly or irritating, the Elite 300 can serve a dual purpose rather than sit unused until the next blackout.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
That tiny gesture may explain why secret copying can feel especially irritating.

— Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritating

Adjective

McCartney said of his note to Mendes about the height imbalance, wondering how the director will rectify this annoying, historic aberration.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Something in your routine, schedule, or workload may feel disproportionately annoying or demanding, especially if too many little things pile up at once.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoying

Adjective

Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel didn’t shy away from discussing his job security Thursday amid a frustrating 0-5 start to the season.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Wednesday's rain made for a frustrating day for hundreds of travelers at Denver International Airport, including some football fans arriving for Thursday night's Broncos game.

— Tori Mason, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Adjective

Even when the metaphor is painfully on the nose, the film’s most disturbing images are more than their dramatic limitations and a whale is still an astonishing place to spend a movie.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
When her aunt Helena and paralyzed grandmother Regina arrive, the fragile boundaries between everyday life, ancestral superstition and Trina’s increasingly disturbing nightmares begin to collapse.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

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reawoke

rebarbative

rebate

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“Rebarbative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebarbative. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rebarbative

adjective

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