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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aching
to feel or cause physical pain
the injection only smarted for a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
-
The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects.—
Bruce Handy,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025 -
But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The pandemic unearthed a collective ache that had long been buried beneath deadlines, distractions, and digital noise.—
Devi Brown,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Because over-the-counter pain relievers are so readily available, people often forget that pills aren't the only option when suffering from minor aches and pains, Pasricha says.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Wiz could be a turning point for an uncertain IPO market and a mergers and acquisitions environment aching from a slowdown in deal activity.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In fact, this iteration is a lighter and more cushioned version, with a level of support and shock absorption that ensures your feet are not aching after a day of sightseeing.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The United States and the Soviet Union were bitter adversaries during the four decade-long Cold War, competing for influence on multiple continents and arming their respective proxies from as far afield as Afghanistan, Angola, and Nicaragua in order to enhance their power at the other's expense.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Then the game jumps ahead, to a snowier and more bitter world.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Such a sharp rise in yield, which corresponds to a sharp drop in price, is unusual, and signaled a broad shift away from U.S. markets, with the U.S. dollar falling in tandem.—
Joe Rennison,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Such a sharp rise in government bond yields over a period of weeks is relatively unusual.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Having to walk past those luxurious, roomy, and comfortable-looking lie-flat beds in business-class on your way to economy is enough to trigger a pang of jealousy.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Mar. 2025
-
As the time of iftar, the breaking of the fast, nears, a day’s worth of hunger pangs combine with jockeying among patrons desperate to get their marook loaves and rush home before the call to prayer sounds from mosque minarets.—
Kiana Hayeri,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
But these little twinges the audience might feel about everyone being mortal only added, if anything, to the evening’s personal potency, and the vitality of a reconvening of the tribe that supported the Wilson sisters from the outset, along with strays picked up during the MTV years.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Then, as the show progresses into new story lines and the rest of the cast tries to carry on without their key player, almost like a phantom limb, the audience feels a constant twinge that something is missing.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2024
Adjective
-
In footage shared with Newsweek by Ring, the super smart pooch can be seen quite literally knocking on the door with his paw, evidently keen to be let back into the house.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Prince William is stepping up in his duties to help his father, who reportedly isn’t keen to hand over the throne anytime soon.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
16 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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