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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ache
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in aching
to feel or cause physical pain
the injection only smarted for a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smarting
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
The Wanderers, three-time A-League Grand Final losers but AFC Champions League winners in 2014, are still smarting after being knocked out of last season’s Finals series by eventual finalists Melbourne Victory.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Baltimore is smarting from that Monday home loss to Deroit -- but Crows would be 3-0 if not for a pair of Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The bill didn’t specifically target card rooms, but the tribes’ rival gambling establishments, still smarting from last year’s legislative defeat, worried their competitors would find a way to use the pending law against them.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Simashev was smarting and vulnerable.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
The Wanderers, three-time A-League Grand Final losers but AFC Champions League winners in 2014, are still smarting after being knocked out of last season’s Finals series by eventual finalists Melbourne Victory.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Baltimore is smarting from that Monday home loss to Deroit -- but Crows would be 3-0 if not for a pair of Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The bill didn’t specifically target card rooms, but the tribes’ rival gambling establishments, still smarting from last year’s legislative defeat, worried their competitors would find a way to use the pending law against them.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
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But usually the administration official doesn’t fight back in such a biting way.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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Over nearly three decades, Baumbach has built a career chronicling families in crisis and artists at the crossroads, his films combining biting wit with an unflinching emotional honesty.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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How hunger impacts learning Erspamer once heard from a school principal about a student who constantly showed up at the administrator's office with a tummy ache.—
Lily Altavena,
Freep.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shaped like your favorite travel pillow, only larger, Buffy’s Cloud side sleeper pillow offers ample support to aching necks and shoulders.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Already aching to find out what happens next?—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That clash of emotions — celebration of a dream season and commiseration over its bitter conclusion — sat on the central clubhouse table.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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To come to its conclusion, the team had 48 participants sample an array of tomato juices with different flavor profiles, including sweet, salty, and bitter options.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Heat didn’t have Powell because of right groin soreness, an injury that occurred during Tuesday’s morning shootaround.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Mavericks eventually ruled Davis out with lower left leg soreness.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, the disbursements are expected to be delayed, likely hurting consumer spending this month.—
Sean Conlon,Pia Singh,
CNBC,
3 Nov. 2025
-
This week's episode began with the announcement that Elaine Hendrix, star of the 1998 version of The Parent Trap, would be unable to compete in the competition that evening, after hurting her rib during rehearsals the same morning.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In Hyderabad, the jump was even sharper, rising from 8 leadership roles in 2024 to 42 year to date.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Southeast could also briefly experience blustery winds and a sharp cold snap, with frost or even a hard freeze reaching inland areas as far south as Georgia and the Carolinas by Tuesday morning.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The friend felt a pang of preëmptive regret.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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These pangs are only compounded by the cliffhanger that concluded Season 2, in which President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) suffered a fatal heart attack and elevated his vice president, Grace Penn (Allison Janney), to the top of the call sheet.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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