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
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
1
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
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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Greg McKenna, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
The reality star held up his ring finger to the camera as Godwin winked and stung her tongue out.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Politicians and bureaucrats weren’t the only ones who cried foul about the News-Press’s stinging opinion columns.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2023
Overall, damaging or destroying 3.5 percent of the Russian military's Il-76 fleet at Pskov will sting and strain logistics, but there’s likely enough redundancy for Russia to cope.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2023
His son also described seeing sharks and being stung by jellyfish.
—Raja Razek, CNN, 6 Aug. 2023
And for users already frustrated at Reddit over new API pricing that forced some popular third-party apps to shut down, the loss of awards like Reddit Gold, arguably one of the most iconic elements of the platform, could sting that much more.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 July 2023
Like other hornets, the yellow-legged hornet can sting humans and pets, posing a risk to those with anaphylactic reactions to stings.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 15 Aug. 2023
Both types of contact dermatitis can cause symptoms such as burning, stinging, itchiness, dryness, and reddening (depending on your skin tone).
—Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 10 Aug. 2023
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
Hives can result from an allergic reaction to medicines, foods, viral infections, or insect stings and bites.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Some stings can be fatal, but deaths are extremely rare.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 15 Aug. 2023
Drugmakers unleashed a broadside at the Inflation Reduction Act as Medicare on Tuesday unveiled the first 10 drugs to face price caps under the law, but most affected companies won’t feel the sting for years.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
Few felt the sting of this shift as acutely as Alberda.
—Greg Jaffe and Patrick Marley, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2023
Meanwhile, many Americans still feel the sting of high costs for the basics.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Those efforts could include undercover sting operations, stiffer fines and having police join ongoing efforts by San Diego lifeguards to cite reckless riders and impound Jet Skis rented from unlicensed companies or individuals.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2023
Taylor is just the latest star back to feel the sting, joining Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler.
—Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
Verb
The losses may sting, but Guyer and Lewisville still have everything to play for.
—Greg McKenna, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
The reality star held up his ring finger to the camera as Godwin winked and stung her tongue out.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Politicians and bureaucrats weren’t the only ones who cried foul about the News-Press’s stinging opinion columns.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2023
Overall, damaging or destroying 3.5 percent of the Russian military's Il-76 fleet at Pskov will sting and strain logistics, but there’s likely enough redundancy for Russia to cope.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2023
His son also described seeing sharks and being stung by jellyfish.
—Raja Razek, CNN, 6 Aug. 2023
And for users already frustrated at Reddit over new API pricing that forced some popular third-party apps to shut down, the loss of awards like Reddit Gold, arguably one of the most iconic elements of the platform, could sting that much more.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 July 2023
Like other hornets, the yellow-legged hornet can sting humans and pets, posing a risk to those with anaphylactic reactions to stings.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 15 Aug. 2023
Both types of contact dermatitis can cause symptoms such as burning, stinging, itchiness, dryness, and reddening (depending on your skin tone).
—Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 10 Aug. 2023
Noun
The sandwich is crowded with fat slices of pickled banana peppers that add an extra sting of heat and vinegar to each bite.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
Hives can result from an allergic reaction to medicines, foods, viral infections, or insect stings and bites.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Some stings can be fatal, but deaths are extremely rare.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 15 Aug. 2023
Drugmakers unleashed a broadside at the Inflation Reduction Act as Medicare on Tuesday unveiled the first 10 drugs to face price caps under the law, but most affected companies won’t feel the sting for years.
—Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
Few felt the sting of this shift as acutely as Alberda.
—Greg Jaffe and Patrick Marley, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2023
Meanwhile, many Americans still feel the sting of high costs for the basics.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Those efforts could include undercover sting operations, stiffer fines and having police join ongoing efforts by San Diego lifeguards to cite reckless riders and impound Jet Skis rented from unlicensed companies or individuals.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2023
Taylor is just the latest star back to feel the sting, joining Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler.
—Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of sting was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing sting
Dictionary Entries Near sting
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sting. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
sting
1 of 2 verb1
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 noun1
a
: the act of stinging
b
: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging
2
stingless
adjective
ˈstiŋ-ləs
Medical Definition
sting
1 of 2 verb
: to prick painfully: as
a
: to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process
b
: to affect with sharp quick pain
: to feel or cause a keen burning pain or smart
the injection stung
sting
2 of 2 noun1
2
Legal Definition
sting
noun
: an elaborate confidence game
specifically
: such a game worked by undercover police in order to catch criminals
More from Merriam-Webster on sting
Nglish: Translation of sting for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sting for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share