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
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The Clippers were coming off a blowout victory at home over the Pelicans the night before, while the Warriors had spent a day off smarting from their own blowout loss to the Lakers in Chase Center.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
McNeel spent more than the rest of the GOP field combined and was backed by the trial lawyers still smarting over last year’s litigation overhaul.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Last summer, Edwards was smarting again from a 4-1 loss to the Thunder in the conference finals.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Though Maia’s apparently now crushing being Tallulah’s manager in terms of getting her lucrative deal$, Tallulah’s still smarting from the embarrassment of her cheesy Ritz ad, leaving her unmotivated to keep going with whatever new ideas Maia puts in front of her.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Luxury Retail Remade Saks Global might have started off 2025 in a hole, with many vendors smarting over money still owed for past orders and reluctant to ship fresh goods to the retailer, but the trends have been getting better.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
Simashev was smarting and vulnerable.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Baltimore is smarting from that Monday home loss to Deroit -- but Crows would be 3-0 if not for a pair of Derrick Henry fumbles.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Still smarting from the Winfrey experience, Netflix approached the couple to discuss how a potential book deal would impact the release of the docuseries.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The Clippers were coming off a blowout victory at home over the Pelicans the night before, while the Warriors had spent a day off smarting from their own blowout loss to the Lakers in Chase Center.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
McNeel spent more than the rest of the GOP field combined and was backed by the trial lawyers still smarting over last year’s litigation overhaul.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Last summer, Edwards was smarting again from a 4-1 loss to the Thunder in the conference finals.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Though Maia’s apparently now crushing being Tallulah’s manager in terms of getting her lucrative deal$, Tallulah’s still smarting from the embarrassment of her cheesy Ritz ad, leaving her unmotivated to keep going with whatever new ideas Maia puts in front of her.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Luxury Retail Remade Saks Global might have started off 2025 in a hole, with many vendors smarting over money still owed for past orders and reluctant to ship fresh goods to the retailer, but the trends have been getting better.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
Simashev was smarting and vulnerable.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
People may initially have fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The remote and hybrid arrangements that came out of the coronavirus pandemic left some people aching for time to care for others or themselves once return-to-office mandates were issued.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The difference was that now, I was filled with rage at the idea that states would soon force people into this world of aching love and every-three-hours feedings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lang plays the antagonist, a bitter Alpine waiter whose family recipe for Grappa involves alchemy and witchcraft.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
-
It's been three months since a ceasefire ended bitter border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, but signs of combat are cut deep in this 11th-century temple atop a 525-meter (1,722-foot) cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hayes brought the energy for the shorthanded Lakers, who were without Deandre Ayton (back soreness), Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Center Jaxson Hayes, who played 36 minutes with starter Deandre Ayton sidelined by back soreness, had seven dunks on his way to season-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds – his first double-double of the season.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On top of that, US tariffs and growing competition in Asia are some of the other factors hurting its revenues.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Another issue worrying farmers in major food-producing countries like Brazil and India is that the war is also hurting the export market.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
City-level data show sharper declines from certain European hubs.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Poverty has fallen too, despite Milei’s sharp cut to subsidies that sparked mass protests.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The book cover trend, imbued with nostalgia for childhood, promises fiction that grapples with the pangs of adulthood in an age of precarity.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Minnesota fans may have had some mild pangs over parting with Buium or Rossi, but a mid- to late-20s pick for arguably the best defenseman on the planet?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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