sting

1 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to prick painfully: such as

a

: to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process

b

: to affect with sharp quick pain or smart

hail stung their faces

2

: to cause to suffer acutely

stung with remorse

3

: overcharge, cheat

intransitive verb

1

: to wound one with or as if with a sting

2

: to feel a keen burning pain or smart

also : to cause such pain

stingingly

ˈstiŋ-iŋ-lē 

adverb

sting

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

specifically : the thrust of a stinger into the flesh

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 2

3

: a sharp or stinging element, force, or quality

4

: an elaborate confidence game

specifically : such a game worked by undercover police in order to trap criminals

Synonyms

Verb

• gouge
• cheat
• overcharge
• surcharge

Noun

• scam
• fraud

Examples of sting in a Sentence

Verb

I got stung by a bee.

The jellyfish stung the swimmer.

The bees will sting if you bother them.

The iodine will sting for a few minutes.

The cold rain stung my eyes.

The smoke made our eyes sting.

She was stung by their harsh criticism.

Noun

When you get the shot, you'll feel a little sting.

His arm was covered with bee stings.

They were caught in a drug sting.

a sting operation by police

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As for the number of people stung, the beach patrol doesn’t have numbers. —Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025

The other hallmark symptoms include swelling—especially around the lips, eyelids or extremities—and a burning or stinging sensation in affected areas. —Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 23 July 2025

Noun

But Fenwick Island State Park recently reported 92 stings on a single July day. —Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025

At the heart of Nugent’s indignation was the 2021 sting operation that entangled him and three other landowners in a legal battle with the DNR. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English stingan; akin to Old Norse stinga to sting and probably to Greek stachys spike of grain, stochos target, aim

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sting

• sting for

Rhymes for sting

• bing
• bring
• ching
• cling
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming

Kids Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

1

a

: to prick painfully especially with a sharp or poisonous stinger

stung by a bee

b

: to affect with or feel quick piercing pain or smart

hail stung their faces

2

: to cause to suffer mentally

stung with regret

3

: overcharge sense 1, cheat

got stung on the deal

4

: to use a stinger

bees sting

sting

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 2

stingless

ˈstiŋ-ləs

adjective

Medical Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to prick painfully: as

a

: to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process

b

: to affect with sharp quick pain

intransitive verb

: to feel or cause a keen burning pain or smart

the injection stung

sting

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

specifically : the thrust of a stinger into the flesh

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 1

Legal Definition

sting

noun

: an elaborate confidence game

specifically : such a game worked by undercover police in order to catch criminals