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
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 3 July 2025
The tower was a remnant of a massive promise and stinging loss for Trousdale County.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 2 July 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
Then, around a fortnight ago, his preference for London emerged, while there have been suggestions, according to sources who were speaking anonymously to protect relationships, he was stung by the manner in which Newcastle pulled out of negotiations to acquire him from Watford in 2022.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 3 July 2025
The tower was a remnant of a massive promise and stinging loss for Trousdale County.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 2 July 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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Historically, Sioux warriors would lure an eagle with rabbit or other food, pluck a few feathers and release it, said Thunder Hawk, who grew up in South Dakota.—
Giovanna Dell'orto,
Twin Cities,
13 July 2025
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Gunn takes the vast canon of Superman lore — from various iterations of the comics to TV shows like Smallville to the Donner films — and treats it like a grab bag, plucking elements from many sources.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Less than halfway through 2025, eight similar scams have cost victims more than $256,000.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
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But the incident is the latest high-profile example of how easy—and alarmingly convincing—AI voice scams have become.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
10 July 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
-
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
-
Unlike the previous Final Destination Bloodlines films, however, death not only comes for the specific individuals who cheated death, but for generations of relatives in the survivors’ bloodlines.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
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Call to police started over cheating feud According to the criminal complaints: The woman began fighting the day before the shooting because of Jones' infidelity.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Marlene alleged her son grabbed and started to squeeze her throat.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
11 July 2025
-
Kalvin Phillips squeezes a pass through the gap and into Omari Hutchinson, taking three Forest players out of the game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
In a plea deal, Johnson pled guilty to one count of broker-dealer registration violation, a Class C felony, in exchange for the 14 securities fraud counts being dismissed.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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In a digital world full of scams and fraud, earning trust is more important—and more difficult—than ever.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, aches and pains, obesity, and the immune system are challenged.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
7 July 2025
-
For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, according to the Food and Drug Administration.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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