smarting 1 of 3

adjective

as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin we had to press on, despite the smarting sleet that was blowing in our faces

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smarting

2 of 3

noun

as in ache

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Dissimilar Words

smarting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of smart
as in aching
to feel or cause physical pain the injection only smarted for a moment

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smarting
Verb
Yet Eli Drinkwitz’s team could be a tough out during its SEC home opener, still smarting from a 31-24 loss at Mississippi State after leading 24-17 entering the fourth quarter. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026 Baltimore fans are still smarting over rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s missed potential game-winning field goal in Week 18. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Alonso hit another home run against his former team Wednesday night, sparking another important win for the late-charging Orioles and earning himself another ovation from New York Mets fans still smarting over his departure last December. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 On that particular day, Chiefs fans were still smarting after their team had wrapped up a 2-14 season just 48 hours earlier by being pummeled by the Broncos 38-3 in Denver. — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 A couple of months have passed since the meetup, but the organizers are still smarting from the fallout. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 The Irish, who have a Heisman candidate in quarterback CJ Carr, bring a 10-game winning streak into the season and still are smarting from being left out of the playoff. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 After all, some in the party are still smarting about the 2008 presidential primary and more than a few are still stammering about the 2016 one. — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Aug. 2026 The 90-6 vote showed lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year and want to avoid another before voters go to the polls. — Kevin Freking, Arkansas Online, 28 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
  1. biting
  2. ache
  3. aching
  4. bitter
  5. soreness
  6. hurting
  7. sharp
  8. pang
Adjective
  • In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of biting
Noun
  • People who get sick typically develop a sudden high fever along with a pounding headache, pain behind the eyes and deep aches in the muscles, joints and bones.
    — Andrés Henao, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket lists at $179 and markets calorie burn and muscle-ache relief.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ache
Verb
  • The aching reality of life for oppressed Black people is never explicitly referred to.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Japanese arthouse favorite Hirokazu Koreeda returns to his wheelhouse to marvelous effect with Look Back, an aching drama about growing up and making art, featuring a pair of stunning performances from child actors.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of aching
Adjective
  • The months-long battle was bitter and hard fought and enmity within the industry has yet to subside.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The game faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel’s actions in Gaza with the players coming under huge pressure to boycott two matches against Israel.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitter
Noun
  • Nacua sat out the last two games because of a hip injury that caused hip, groin and abdominal soreness.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Spend an afternoon on yard work, and the next day’s soreness makes sense to us and to the people around us.
    — Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of soreness
Verb
  • Higher rates may slow loan growth for banks, hurting their bottom lines.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Windows had been boarded up to avoid glass shards hurting anyone in case of an explosion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurting
Adjective
  • The strikes marked a sharp escalation in fighting between the two South Asian countries and risked further complicating international efforts to ease tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
    — MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Aries Full Moon illuminates your 2nd house of resources, bringing income, spending, possessions, or self-worth into sharper focus.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of sharp
Noun
  • But as time often does, the two started having pangs of nostalgia and wondered about their unfinished business.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Every now and then, in the early hours of the morning, Kumar sits in the stillness to watch the fishermen return with their catch and feels a pang of longing.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of pang

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smarties
smarting
smartly
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Cite this Entry

“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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