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

Honey bee's sting The findings not only provide biologists with insight into bee biology but may also help engineers develop new kinds of micropumps for medical devices. — Mike McRae 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

The 49ers have had their share of suspensions this season with owner Jed York currently serving a league suspension for violating the personal conduct policy after he was arrested in a prostitution sting in Ohio. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Indy struggled against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in its season opener, then took a stinging 33-30 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. — Elise Devlin, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2026

General Mills spun off Darden Restaurants in 1995, and then Darden sold Red Lobster in 2014, in a deal with the private equity firm Golden Gate Capital that still stings many veterans to this day. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026