stinger

noun sting·er \ ˈstiŋ-ər \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

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

4 medical : 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

Arrington had missed the second quarter with a concussion and a stinger that left him, momentarily, without feeling in his left arm.
—Peter King

— called also burner

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

Woods added another textbook birdie at 9, highlighted by a vintage stinger off the tee, to make the turn in five-under 31.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "Tiger Woods Vaults Into Contention at Memorial With 68," 2 June 2018
Very rarely, victims can have an allergic reaction to the stinger, and only a handful of people die from them every few years.

— National Geographic, "What's Behind a Surge in Stingray Attacks?," 5 Jan. 2018
Hole 2 - Par 4 Tiger rips a stinger off the tee but finds the rough to the left of the fairway.

— adam woodard, USA TODAY, "Tiger Tracker: Follow Tiger Woods' Wells Fargo Championship Saturday round," 5 May 2018
While rays do have venomous stingers — near the base of the tail, not at the tip — those have been snipped off.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "What do stingrays feel like? And are they safe? What to know about new KC Zoo exhibit | The Kansas City Star," 1 May 2018
Add a small leader and treble stinger hook to the jogs to enhance success.

— cleveland.com, "D'Arcy Egan fishing report for May 3: Walleye biting, steelhead hanging around," 3 May 2018
Hair jigs in purple and black tipped with a very short leader and stinger treble hook did best.

— d'arcy egan, cleveland.com, "Fishing Report for April 20: Fish biting again despite dingy waters," 20 Apr. 2018
According to University of Hawaii at Manoa study, the best way to treat a sting is to rinse the wound with vinegar to remove any residual stingers and bits of tentacles and then immerse in hot water or apply a hot compress to the area.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Portuguese Man O' War remain, Purple flags up at Gulf Shores, Orange Beach," 1 Mar. 2018
Related To treat a sting, rinse the sting site with vinegar to remove any leftover stingers, and then immerse the wound in hot water or cover it with a hot pack.

— jake harris, ajc, "Spring breakers, watch out: The Portuguese man o' war is back," 1 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

stinger Synonyms

Synonyms

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

body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut;

cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO;

battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing;

flogging, walloping, whip, whipping;

STINGER Defined for English Language Learners

stinger

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

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

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