sting 1 of 2

noun

Definition of stingnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

sting

2 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋ How to pronounce sting (audio)
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sting
Noun
The sting also relied on the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force program, which set up an undercover chat operation to communicate with suspects. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Caterpillar hairs floated on the water’s surface, leaving swimmers with a necklace of red stings. — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
Verb
Spray the nest from a distance to reduce the chances of being stung. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 More than 3,100 people have been stung at Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beach so far this year, which is at least double last year's total. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
  1. tingle
  2. scam
  3. gouge
  4. pluck
  5. ache
  6. fraud
  7. cheat
  8. squeeze
Noun
  • Fruit extracts clarify excess oil and buildup, while a cooling mint complex and menthol deliver a refreshing tingle, leaving your scalp feeling clean, balanced, and freshly reset.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 June 2026
  • In the case of Putnam County, that tingle is a roar — our collective sense that the fraud there goes back decades.
    — Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
Definition of tingle
Noun
  • Apple says mercenary spyware attacks are far more sophisticated than the malware and scams most of us encounter.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Excess construction materials exported from China, together with Chinese construction services, helped casinos, special economic zones, and scam compounds develop rapidly in Southeast Asia while supporting Chinese export revenues.
    — Alvin Camba, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of scam
Verb
  • The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Also, refrain from pressure washing aggressively, as this can gouge the wood.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026
Definition of gouge
Verb
  • The streamer has found its leading lady for the biopic, plucking an unknown first-timer to play the sertanejo icon.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Just walk out the back door, pluck a warm peach off the tree, and try to think of a more quintessentially summer experience.
    — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of pluck
Noun
  • However, around one in five people who are infected develop a fever and moderate symptoms such as body aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Nothing can ruin your day quite like the dull ache of underwire hoisting up your bust.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ache
Noun
  • According to Hon Weng Chong, Cortical Labs founder and CEO, some potential applications include drug discovery, humanoid robotics, cybersecurity and fraud detection.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In March 2025, the EPA terminated roughly $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin alleging programmatic fraud and abuse.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • Not to be cheated in front of the largest assembly of Hall of Famers since the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, Schwarber flew out twice to deep center field.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Princeton University dropped its over century-old Honor Code tradition which let students take their exams without supervision, after an AI cheating scandal rattled the Ivy League institution.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Questions no longer centre on marking this era with a trophy, but on how much juice is left to squeeze.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To protect a specific area, such as a garden, Parker recommends properly installing snake fencing made from quarter-inch hardware cloth, which can help keep even newborn copperheads from squeezing through.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

stimulus
sting
stinger
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sting for Spanish Speakers

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