stinger

noun

sting·​er ˈstiŋ-ər 

plural stingers

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

5

: a short scene that appears during or after the closing credits of a movie or TV program

And don't walk out of said theater too fast either; the credits offer two stingers, one points the way toward a new comic franchise, another includes an escaped space monster.

—D. J. Palladino

Synonyms

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• 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
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

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 on the Web

But under further inspection, the researchers noticed that the critter was missing the identifiable stinger that delivers a scorpion’s venom. —Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024

The stinger got very close to hitting the boys with its tail. ... —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024

Analysis: Brock Purdy’s successful comeback from elbow surgery kept Darnold on the sideline, aside from cameos due to Purdy’s shoulder stingers in December games, as well as the Week 18 start against the Rams. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024

Defensive tackle Michael Pierce (neck stinger) and inside linebacker Patrick Queen (shoulder) were also banged up during the blowout 56-19 win. —Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2024

This supplemental unlocks $6 billion for our sub capacity to build subs, $5 billion to produce 155 millimeter howitzer rounds, and everything in between, javelins, stingers, tomahawks. —CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024

To arrive at this conclusion, the scientists first extracted venom from the scorpion by mild electrical stimulation to the telsons (stinger) and collected the venom through capillary tubes. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

Greenlaw's scary stinger, 'Rodrigo' picks off fellow late-rounder One of the game's scariest moments was when standout 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw delivered a hit to the Lions' Sam LaPorta after a catch. —José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024

But Darnold did fare well early in that Week 18 start, and in spot duty when Purdy got sidelined by December stingers in Arizona and against Baltimore. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stinger

noun

sting·​er ˈstiŋ-ər 

1

: one that stings

especially : a piercing blow or remark

2

: a sharp organ of some animals (as bees or scorpions) that is used to wound, paralyze, or kill prey or an enemy by piercing and injecting a poisonous fluid

Medical Definition

stinger

noun

sting·​er ˈstiŋ-ər 

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