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
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
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
Joan Murray, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
That the price includes $575 for the propane to fill the tank takes away some of the sting.
—Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2026
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
With a stinging defeat in the rearview mirror, Charles Lee knows the task at hand for the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Noun
Purple flags were also raised to warn beachgoers of the danger of jellyfish stings.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
That the price includes $575 for the propane to fill the tank takes away some of the sting.
—Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Live Nation ain’t turning the other cheek to a stinging jury verdict today that labeled the Ticketmaster-owning concert and talent promoter a monopoly.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
With a stinging defeat in the rearview mirror, Charles Lee knows the task at hand for the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Noun
-
That process helps encourage gentle cell turnover without irritation, while both pomegranate and pear ferments bring a soft, enzyme-like exfoliation to the mix, giving you that smoother, glowier look—just without the tingle.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
O’Neal wrote about delinquents – characters whose exploits, their power, induced a creeping tingle on the back of your neck.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, has pledged to remove imposter accounts tied to scams that were recently flagged by the Manhattan district attorney's office, following a phone call between the two parties this week, the DA's office told ABC News Friday.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
DeviantArt’s Protect feature uses state-of-the-art image recognition to help safeguard creators’ work against unauthorized use, and the platform employs a dedicated team to investigate and mitigate the impact from spam, scams, fraud, and other bad actors.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wood can gouge or splinter easily under too much pressure.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then in 2013, she was plucked from the pros to take on an even dicier enterprise, a new Big East, a basketball-centric conference in a college landscape dominated by football schools and power conferences.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Although Turner might have been open for a second, quarterback Cade Klubnik threw the ball high and late, allowing Delane to abandon his zonee anad pluck the ball out of the air.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the first signs of Lyme disease include mild fever, joint aches, muscle pain, fatigue and headache.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
-
When to see a doctor Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager with California Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, said in an email Friday that heavy reliance on outside vendors can increase the risk of fraud or mismanagement if oversight is weak.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
DeviantArt’s Protect feature uses state-of-the-art image recognition to help safeguard creators’ work against unauthorized use, and the platform employs a dedicated team to investigate and mitigate the impact from spam, scams, fraud, and other bad actors.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Notice something small, then compliment it This one is almost cheating.—
Henna Pryor,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Naumann also did Loughlin’s hair for this March outing, which marked the mother and daughters’ first red-carpet appearance together since the 2019 college admissions cheating scandal.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Focusing on everyday shapewear, Yummie hugs instead of squeezes like traditional shapewear that can be extremely tight and constrictive.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
All movies need a 45-day exclusive theatrical window, because small and mid-budget movies that hit streaming sooner are getting squeezed.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
