stinger

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noun sting·er \ ˈstiŋ-ər \

Definition of stinger

1 :one that stings; specifically :a sharp blow or remark

2 :a sharp organ (as of a bee, scorpion, or stingray) that is usually connected with a poison gland or otherwise adapted to wound by piercing and injecting a poison

3 :a cocktail usually consisting of brandy and white crème de menthe

See stinger defined for English-language learners

See stinger defined for kids

Examples of stinger in a Sentence

the stinger of a bee
in the eighth round he delivered a stinger that knocked his opponent flat

Recent Examples of stinger from the Web

In an odd twist, team trainers reported no stingers.

— dwight perry / sideline chatter, The Seattle Times, "These guys won’t say which parent they like better," 23 June 2017
The stinger may reach up to 14 inches and its underside has venom glands.

— sarah peters, ajc, "NEW: Palm Beach Gardens man, 19, recovering after stingray spears him," 20 June 2017
The 3.3-liter engine—also seen in the Genesis G90, the G80 Sport, and the upcoming G70, which will share the Stinger’s platform but with a shorter wheelbase and different styling—serves up the sauce with an eager pull and a baritone burble.

— aaron robinson, Car and Driver, "2018 Kia Stinger," 20 June 2017
Take notes, tell friends, and then, when the moment is right, unleash your stinger.

— robin abcarian, latimes.com, "The James Comey Method of dealing with a bad boss offers lessons for all harassed workers," 10 June 2017
Van Leeuwenhoek first used his new tool to examine more chaste subjects such as bee stingers, human lice and lake water in the mid-1670s.

— laura poppick, Smithsonian, "The Long, Winding Tale of Sperm Science," 7 June 2017
After you remove the stinger, wash the site with soap and water.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "This Is the Only Thing You Should Do If a Bee Stings You," 6 June 2017
Williams, who was signed last Monday, participated in the Chiefs’ first practice on May 23 but missed the third of 10 voluntary practices on Thursday because of what coach Andy Reid called a stinger.

— terez a. paylor, kansascity.com, "Chiefs release linebacker Tourek Williams, sign Marcus Rush," 30 May 2017
Both can sting repeatedly, unlike honey bees who lose their stinger at first jab.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Beneficial insects can help your garden grow," 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stinger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of stinger

circa 1552

stinger Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, ¹blow, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap)

STINGER Defined for English Language Learners

stinger

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noun

Definition of stinger for English Language Learners

: a pointed part on an insect and animal that is used to sting someone

STINGER Defined for Kids

stinger

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noun sting·er \ ˈstiŋ-ər \

Definition of stinger for Students

:a sharp part of an animal (as a bee or scorpion) that is used to wound and often poison prey or an enemy

Medical Dictionary

stinger

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noun sting·er \ ˈstiŋ-ər \

medical Definition of stinger

1 :a sharp organ (as of a wasp, bee, scorpion, or stingray) that is usually connected with a poison gland or otherwise adapted to wound by piercing and injecting a poison

2 :a usually sports-related injury of the brachial plexus marked by a painful burning sensation that radiates from the neck down the arm and is often accompanied by weakness or numbness of the affected area — called also burner