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 aching
to feel or cause physical pain
the injection only smarted for a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in ache
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
-
Its comedy is observational rather than overtly satirical, far less biting than other Judge creations like Idiocracy and Silicon Valley.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 July 2025 -
Letterman was a frequent critic of CBS, in a comedic but biting way.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
18 July 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
Noun
-
Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea for those with a mild illness.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
29 July 2025
-
The world is a blur behind tears, an ache in my chest, my biggest pain.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Instead of feeling defeated or bitter, choose to get better.—
Sandra Balogun,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Despite her success as an art professor and painter, Ruth feels adrift and bitter.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The find came during an impressive outing for the 36-year-old Democrat on Joe Rogan’s podcast in which the aspiring preacher espoused the same brand of sharp sound bytes that has earned him almost a million TikTok followers.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
21 July 2025
-
Over time, whites grew increasingly uneasy about submitting to Black barbers wielding sharp instruments.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
And that flutter of success, or pang of failure, lives on well after the competition.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
-
The first pangs struck in late May, when Werenski and the United States won the gold medal at the IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, the first gold for Team USA since 1933.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The burrata is cool and rich, faintly sweet and a plenty salty with a twinge of sourness.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
26 July 2025
-
Richarlison was taken off at half-time, then Maddison and Solanke were taken off after feeling knee and quad twinges respectively.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Joe, who has asthma, strongly opposes the implementation of mask mandates that Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) is keen to enforce.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
23 July 2025
-
That’s another substantive topic worthy of keen chatter.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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