1
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
the sting of cold air against my face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scam
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the pawn shop operation turned out to be a sting by undercover police officers to catch the ring of burglars
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to pluck
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
swindlers who sting unwary tourists by posing as officials demanding money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sting
Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But Paddack won’t let the sting linger.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
These scandals stung at the time, but looking back, Cyrus wouldn’t have changed a thing.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Noun
In the sting of disapproval, a strange new power emerged.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But Paddack won’t let the sting linger.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.
—Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
These scandals stung at the time, but looking back, Cyrus wouldn’t have changed a thing.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Noun
-
The spicy versions deliver a swift punch and a lingering tingle on the tongue.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And second, there’s the audience’s uncomfortable tingle of recognition watching Vladimir Putin’s tightening stranglehold on the Russian press.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An alleged $20 million insurance scam on Mount Everest saw climbers subjected to staged rescues and admitted to hospitals across Kathmandu in a scheme to fraudulently claim insurance money, Nepali authorities say.—
Manish Paudel,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Shah served less than three years of her 6½-year sentence after pleading guilty in July 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a nationwide investment scam that targeted mostly elderly, vulnerable women.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Nobody likes being price gouged, whether at the gas pump, ticket purchase, or a rideshare.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Somberness, as well as anger and sadness, color the majority of the songs plucked from Springsteen's vast catalog to underscore the reason for this 20-date tour.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
My niece requested an extra five minutes to say goodbye to the chickens and my nephew insisted on plucking just one more lemon from the yard.—
Lara Kramer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And that dawg had a tummy ache.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The bumps and bruises, aches, pain and fatigue that comes with air travel and sleeping in hotels and the unrelenting schedule takes its toll.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
At first, the attention became so intense that Bravo was removed from the televisions inside the minimum-security camp, where Shah was serving her sentence for her role in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The chat room was on fire, because Magnus Carlsen had lost to the kid—Hans Niemann—and then implied that Hans had cheated.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Most people would agree that cheating and planning a school shooting are hardly equal offenses, and Borgli doesn't totally stick the landing by sweeping Emma's past impulses under the rug.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Skiers and snowboarders trying to squeeze the last bits of winter fun from Colorado‘s meager snowpack will have one less option after this week, with Vail Resort set to close 11 days sooner than planned.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The disruption has not only sent fuel prices soaring, but has squeezed supplies of petrochemicals needed to make everyday items like shoes, clothing and plastic bags.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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