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

… 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

… the credits offer two stingers, one points the way toward a new comic franchise, another includes an escaped space monster.

—D. J. Palladino

Synonyms of stinger

• punch
• blow
• slap
• thump
• thud
• hit
• swipe
• stroke
• pound
• knock
• smack
• whack
• poke
• clip
• lick
• spank
• hook
• bang
• welt

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

Running back Christian McCaffrey is fine after sustaining a nerve-stinger near his neck and left shoulder in the season finale. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

McCaffrey suffered a neck stinger on a hard hit during the 49ers' loss Saturday but returned to the game. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026

Agents pushed back demonstrators with a barrage of stinger ball grenades, pepper balls, tear gas and baton rounds. —Robert Costa, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026

Its deadly stinger was full of venom, much more potent and deadly than any snake. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stinger

• bringer
• clinger
• dinger
• inger
• ringer
• slinger
• springer
• stringer
• winger
• wringer

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