SMARTING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 Other than dispirited Red Sox fans still smarting over the ’75 World Series, nobody really hated those Reds. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 4 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 Michelle, who is smarting from Jesse and Lacy’s visible affection, decides to go full Coyote Ugly on the bar. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 July 2026 But, the West Germans looked like dogs chasing cars as the swift Algerians, smarting from the Germans’ strutting arrogance, flowed to a 2-1 upset at Gijón that brought appreciation for Algeria’s audacity and artistry. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026 The French, still smarting from the Treaty of Paris, did not. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Underlying tensions are taut, Iran thinks the US blockade is a violation, the UAE is still smarting from Iranian missile attacks Monday and Tuesday, and Israel is torching a key plank of the ceasefire deal, re-escalating in Lebanon by bombing Hezbollah leaders. — Jennifer Hansler, CNN Money, 7 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting

Adjective

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
Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026

Definition of biting

Noun

For a filmmaker who built 17 minutes around the ache of being watched, there’s a quiet symmetry to it — a stretch on the Lido spent, for once, doing the looking herself.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Symptoms and treatment For most people, West Nile produces mild symptoms — such as fever, aches and rashes — or none at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of ache

Verb

But comparisons aside, this is unmistakably a Lee Chang-dong film, its aching humanism reflecting the co-existence of despair and hope.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Green lasers shot out into the crowd, revealing the faces of fans who’d waited all night on aching feet to see their favorites.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of aching

Adjective

These included bitter title fights and tangles with his former teammate Nico Rosberg, plus flashpoints with Valtteri Bottas and Russell.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
At Joontos, the chefs concoct dishes such as the batata harra, which recalls patatas bravas with black lime—a pervasive, earthy-bitter top note in Saudi cuisine.

— Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of bitter

Noun

Prior to the third inning, Royals standout Jac Caglianone exited the contest with left elbow soreness.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2026
White started in center, just his seventh start since arriving at the trade deadline, as Ceddanne Rafaela deals with right quad soreness.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of soreness

Adjective

Danish filmmaker May el-Toukhy, one of the two female directors competing for the Golden Lion this year, in Venice with a sharp, searing analysis of the women thrown to the wolves in the aftermath of World War II.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
The fruits are enjoyed by birds, and deer tend to avoid this shrub, most likely due to the sharp spines.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of sharp

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smarties

smarting

smartly

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“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of smarting

adjective

noun

verb

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