1
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
1
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
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sting
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 June 2025
What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025
Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Police stings routinely discover worse in back rooms — illicit drug trafficking, money laundering and tax evasion run by sophisticated criminal networks.
—Edgar Domenech, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sting
Verb
Given the state of the Dodgers’ pitching, losing any game Yamamoto pitches stings a little more.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 June 2025
What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
The protesters are showing up to object to the sting operation perpetrated on people with valid identification who were told to register with an immigration office.
—Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Police stings routinely discover worse in back rooms — illicit drug trafficking, money laundering and tax evasion run by sophisticated criminal networks.
—Edgar Domenech, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Verb
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That autumn, Newsom accused oil companies of price gouging California drivers and called a special legislative session to address the spikes.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
-
Plowshare: an agricultural implement for turning soil, for gouging a cleft in the earth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Not long after that, Van was booked to face Kevin Borjas on a Dana White’s Contender Series Card, but the UFC plucked him from that event to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov in June 2024.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Today, Horowitz’s startup, AMP, based in Louisville, Colo., has developed a technology that could move the needle—by using AI to pluck recyclables out of society’s vast tide of garbage far more quickly and efficiently.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Thousands of Americans fall prey to medical identity theft scams each year, according to Security.org, with a large number of victims belonging to older age groups.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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The move would block laws on the books in more than 20 states, including those covering AI scams, election misinformation and explicit deepfake images of children.—
Jay O'Brien,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Noun
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This refreshing serum gets its tingle from peppermint and tea tree, which works with caffeine to invigorate the scalp and maximize the absorption of the formula’s peptides.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
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The sight of smoke made my skin tingle and my arm hair stand on end, but not with dread.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump's rapid pullback of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has cost Americans at least $18 billion in higher fees and lost compensation for consumers allegedly cheated by major companies, according to an analysis released Tuesday by two organizations.—
Douglas Gillison,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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But they didn’t get cheated this spring, not with three rousing blasts from the past: Against the Pistons, against the Celtics, against the Pacers.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Paul Blackburn, with plenty of starting experience for Oakland, could squeeze into the picture too – especially if the Mets decide to try a six-man rotation that would save wear and tear on each man.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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When pancake is ready to flip, squeeze the cinnamon mixture into a swirl shape on top of the pancake batter, pressing the tip of the bag slightly into the batter.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
Noun
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That they are aimed at reducing abuse, waste and fraud.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Last month, Kubler was indicted by the Justice Department on charges of securities fraud and money laundering.—
Sydney Sasser,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, aches, soreness, joint pain, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms and decreased consciousness.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
24 June 2025
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Symptoms listed by the health agency still include sore throat, cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, congestion, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle aches, body aches, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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