as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
these cold, stinging winds are not just a discomfort—they can be dangerous to exposed flesh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gouging
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 plucking
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
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Recent Examples of stinging
Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The most stinging examples involved longtime partner and close personal friend Ryan Lindgren, and more recently, Panarin.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Those, and other comments, had surprised some onlookers, and led to author Arundhati Roy cancelling her visit to the festival and penning a stinging rebuke.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
After a stinging loss at Wichita State over the weekend, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is still figuring out why the Tigers aren't playing their best.
—Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 25 Jan. 2026
The itchy rash is accompanied by intense stinging, pain, and burning.
—Fara Rosenzweig, Outside, 24 Jan. 2026
Powell disclosed it with a stinging online rebuke last Sunday.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The more stinging irony here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping probably approved these public statements with a chuckle.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Justice Benjamin Curtis, from Massachusetts, wrote a stinging dissent and resigned from the Court shortly afterward, reportedly in part because of the decision.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a setback when his conservatives lost a regional election to the Greens, a stinging blow for the unpopular German leader compounded by a jump in support for the far right.
—Michael Nienaber, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a broad cooperation pact in January last year as their countries deepened their partnership in the face of stinging Western sanctions.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Exposure to it causes burning and stinging in the eyes, blurred vision, and wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026
An official with the Long Island Rail Road used his position as an assistant chief program officer to land his son in a job with railroad contractors, the MTA Inspector General said in a stinging report Wednesday.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
The surrender also included a stinging lesson in the nuances of diplomacy.
—Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Seattle fans are hoping to erase the stinging memory of Super Bowl 49 – when the Seahawks famously decided not to run from the 1-yard line and saw Malcolm Butler intercept Russell Wilson to seal a 28-24 Patriots win.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Beekeeping Frisco businessman Nate Sheets had a comfortable lead over three-term Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in a heated Republican primary Tuesday after roughly half the votes were tallied, a stinging initial victory in a race roiled by an unusual split at the top of the GOP.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The most stinging examples involved longtime partner and close personal friend Ryan Lindgren, and more recently, Panarin.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Those, and other comments, had surprised some onlookers, and led to author Arundhati Roy cancelling her visit to the festival and penning a stinging rebuke.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
After a stinging loss at Wichita State over the weekend, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is still figuring out why the Tigers aren't playing their best.
—Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 25 Jan. 2026
The itchy rash is accompanied by intense stinging, pain, and burning.
—Fara Rosenzweig, Outside, 24 Jan. 2026
Powell disclosed it with a stinging online rebuke last Sunday.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The more stinging irony here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping probably approved these public statements with a chuckle.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Justice Benjamin Curtis, from Massachusetts, wrote a stinging dissent and resigned from the Court shortly afterward, reportedly in part because of the decision.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
However, even with that stinging loss, Musero’s attorney is riding the wave generated by the lists coming out.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a setback when his conservatives lost a regional election to the Greens, a stinging blow for the unpopular German leader compounded by a jump in support for the far right.
—Michael Nienaber, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a broad cooperation pact in January last year as their countries deepened their partnership in the face of stinging Western sanctions.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
Exposure to it causes burning and stinging in the eyes, blurred vision, and wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 25 Feb. 2026
An official with the Long Island Rail Road used his position as an assistant chief program officer to land his son in a job with railroad contractors, the MTA Inspector General said in a stinging report Wednesday.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
The surrender also included a stinging lesson in the nuances of diplomacy.
—Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Seattle fans are hoping to erase the stinging memory of Super Bowl 49 – when the Seahawks famously decided not to run from the 1-yard line and saw Malcolm Butler intercept Russell Wilson to seal a 28-24 Patriots win.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The bulk of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, the biting point of a shark tooth, the startling familiarity of a hominin footprint—and then there’s the charm inherent to any sample of regurgitalite, the paleontological term for fossilized vomit.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
However, the number of rent-gouging complaints received by the county continues to increase.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Abalone were once so plentiful, jumping on a surfboard and plucking a bag full off of rocks for dinner was a common pastime, with feasts held right on the sand.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sacramento’s top public media institutions filed Monday a settlement agreement in their dueling lawsuits to determine the owner of a transmission tower, ending a bitter legal dispute.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Without proper attention, a carafe will take on a brown tinge, and limescale buildup will eventually reduce the machine's efficiency, leading to bitter-tasting coffee and other malfunctions.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The incident came a couple of weeks after the sport was in the headlines during the Olympics as the Canadian team was accused of cheating.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Billionaire Ronald Burkle is suing political power-broker Darius Anderson, accusing his former protégé and friend of cheating him out of millions of dollars.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The lady beetles emerging in spring actually entered your home in the fall, squeezing through small cracks to overwinter inside walls, attics, and other sheltered spaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Equipped with a deep high-rise waistband featuring internal power mesh, Icebreaker has engineered these leggings to provide a bit of extra compression without over-squeezing.—
Harry Spampinato,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon, planet of emotions, soars into your 9th House of Philosophy today, encouraging you to explore ideas, cultures, or beliefs that soften sharp edges.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Here on the streets of Israel, there's been a sharp increase in the amount of rocket and missile attacks from Iran and its proxy Hezbollah in the past 24 hours.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Disinfect pruners and loppers by soaking them in a mixture of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water for 30 minutes, or spray the blades with rubbing alcohol.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Ahead, experts explain how soaking anemone and ranunculus corms can significantly improve your gardening results and share helpful tips on how to do it, along with troubleshooting advice.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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