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
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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
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
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent oversaw a series of unorthodox steps aimed at stabilizing Argentine assets after the peso had plunged in the wake of Milei’s party suffering a stinging defeat in a key provincial ballot last month.
—Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.
—Travis Johnson, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
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
Senior lawmaker Angela Rayner, a popular figure on the left of the party, is still stinging after being forced to resign as deputy prime minister in September for failing to pay enough tax on a home purchase.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
This approach supports the skin barrier and reduces the likelihood of irritation, tightness or stinging after bathing.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Nedeljkovic could be back in net Saturday afternoon when the Sharks (27-21-4) play the Calgary Flames (21-26-6), hoping to bounce back from a stinging 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Luhmann, who traveled from Illinois to Minnesota to document the immigration enforcement surge, said his hands were stinging from the different smoke bombs and pepper sprays deployed that day.
—Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
When treating frostbite at this stage, a person might feel stinging, burning and swelling in the affected area.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent oversaw a series of unorthodox steps aimed at stabilizing Argentine assets after the peso had plunged in the wake of Milei’s party suffering a stinging defeat in a key provincial ballot last month.
—Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.
—Travis Johnson, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Senior lawmaker Angela Rayner, a popular figure on the left of the party, is still stinging after being forced to resign as deputy prime minister in September for failing to pay enough tax on a home purchase.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
This approach supports the skin barrier and reduces the likelihood of irritation, tightness or stinging after bathing.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Nedeljkovic could be back in net Saturday afternoon when the Sharks (27-21-4) play the Calgary Flames (21-26-6), hoping to bounce back from a stinging 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Luhmann, who traveled from Illinois to Minnesota to document the immigration enforcement surge, said his hands were stinging from the different smoke bombs and pepper sprays deployed that day.
—Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
When treating frostbite at this stage, a person might feel stinging, burning and swelling in the affected area.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As much as $49 million in rent may have been illegally collected, with 42% of price-gouging listings concentrated in areas where fire victims relocated.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The price-gouging allegation dates back to the early months of the pandemic, when panic over shortages led to massive supermarket shopping sprees, and some products, such as eggs, saw sharp price increases.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Archive footage viewed on old VHS tapes and Super-8 film reveals that Cook was a talented and charismatic musician, plucking away at his Gibson while singing blues standards or original material.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Broten remembers Pavelich plucking his guitar and singing Neil Young songs on bus rides.—
Stephen Whyno,
Twin Cities,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The bitter taste discourages some animals, and others are put off by the smell.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The unfolding Mandelson scandal threatened to topple Starmer’s premiership, with the bitter fallout leading to the resignations of key advisers and growing calls from senior Labour Party figures for the British prime minister to step down.—
Peter Wilkinson,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Swedish team accused Canada of cheating, specifically reporting that Canada’s Marc Kennedy was illegally touching his stone.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The state has intervened in districts for reasons such as fiscal mismanagement, cheating scandals and consistently failing academic performance at a campus.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fall was aided by the cooling prices of gasoline, eggs, and beef, but rising costs for consumer goods like apparel, computers, and airfares suggest tariffs are still squeezing household budgets.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Use clean, sharp pruners to cut a smooth edge right above a living bud, lateral branch, or along the trunk where there is a ragged break.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Coupled with a sharp slowdown in the labor market, a massive voter revolt is gaining momentum heading into this year’s midterm elections.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To keep your drinkware in proper shape for celebrations and wine nights, try soaking them in vinegar instead.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Every room is understated and done in grays, white marbles, and earth tones—plus splashes of blue representing Lake Michigan—and comes with one of four types of soaking tubs, all deliciously inviting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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