Synonyms of sting

sting 1 of 2

noun

1

as in tingle

a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body

the sting of cold air against my face

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tingle
• ache
• pain
• pang
• stitch
• prick
• soreness
• swelling
• twinge
• agony
• shoot
• sore
• discomfort
• tenderness
• suffering
• headache
• hurt
• throe
• anguish
• smart
• distress
• misery
• inflammation
• harm
• injury
• torture
• torment
• damage
• sufferance
• toothache
• detriment
• affliction
• complaint
• backache
• colic
• gripe
• stomachache
• bellyache
• earache
• charley horse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• comfort
• easiness

2

as in scam

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

the pawn shop operation turned out to be a sting by undercover police officers to catch the ring of burglars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scam
• fraud
• swindle
• shell game
• con
• hoax
• hustle
• scheme
• trick
• device
• flimflam
• bunco
• cross
• fiddle
• racket
• counterfeit
• jig
• gouging
• dodge
• ploy
• fix
• wile
• soaking
• stratagem
• pyramid scheme
• fake
• overcharging
• rip-off
• Ponzi scheme
• sleight
• sham
• gimmick
• forgery
• phony
• three-card monte
• thimblerig
• humbug

sting

2 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋ 

1

as in to gouge

to charge (someone) too much for goods or services

a nightclub that's been stinging patrons for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gouge
• cheat
• overcharge
• surcharge
• soak
• defraud
• skin
• stick
• clip
• fleece
• mischarge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undercharge

2

as in to pluck

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

swindlers who sting unwary tourists by posing as officials demanding money

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pluck
• squeeze
• hustle
• cheat
• beat
• stick
• bleed
• screw
• do
• skin
• deceive
• trick
• stiff
• shake down
• swindle
• sucker
• gaff
• short
• victimize
• skunk
• defraud
• hose
• fleece
• rook
• mulct
• shortchange
• ream
• exploit
• flimflam
• chisel
• rip off
• con
• nobble
• cozen
• bilk
• fiddle
• diddle
• take for a ride
• fool
• chouse
• betray
• take to the cleaners
• euchre
• clip
• nick
• gouge
• wrench
• extort
• thimblerig
• sell a bill of goods to
• wring
• soak
• overcharge
• do in
• milk
• wrest
• gull
• dupe
• double-cross
• bitch
• rope (in)
• bamboozle
• fast-talk

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sting

Noun

The $160 seized in the sting was given to the task force as part of his plea. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Adding the court fine, the NFL fine, and the $160 seized during the sting and forfeited to the task force, York's total cost will be $501,310. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

And in the Northwest, unseasonably warm temperatures combined with drier fall conditions may extend ant and stinging insect activity. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Sep. 2026

In the rare instances people have spotted, these birds avoid getting stung by smashing the wasps on the ground to break the stingers before finishing their meal. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026