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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
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The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects.—
Bruce Handy,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025 -
But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Trump's second term kicked off late January with mass layoffs in the federal government, widespread tariffs, an escalating trade war with China and a deportation program that has led to a bitter court battle.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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Her coverage has ranged from a rare interview with Mark Zuckerberg as Meta neared its 20th birthday to the bitter divorce proceedings of an Indian software billionaire.—
Kerry A. Dolan,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lars Baron/Getty Images/Getty Images Europe The ski jumping world remains embroiled in controversy stemming from a cheating scandal that was announced this week, initially involving a few members of the Norwegian team.—
Manuela López Restrepo,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
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Netflix’s first season of Temptation Island was filled with cheating men, frustrated women, and lots of flashing red lights as folks repeatedly hooked up in an outdoor tent.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The aviation industry expects the exemption to help companies keep costs down during a sharp pullback in travel spending by consumers worried about slower economic growth and higher inflation.—
Rajesh Kumar Singh,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The Leadership of Listening For Charest, staying sharp means being constantly challenged.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rice water is a starchy liquid that results from soaking the grain in water or cooking it in water, Khetarpal explains.—
Olivia Munson,
USA TODAY,
7 Jan. 2025
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Consider soaking the area with a warm, wet compress before applying.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Gators still easily picked up Todd Golden’s first NCAA tournament victory and the program’s first win in the Big Dance since beating Virginia Tech in 2021.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2025
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Micron Technology — The semiconductor stock slid almost 4% despite beating Wall Street expectations for earnings in the fiscal second quarter and offering strong guidance.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Pope made sure to share the celebration again, jogging to find his wife and daughters behind the bench for a long embrace before hustling to a TV interview.—
Jesse Temple,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Rayah Marshall attacked the rim before hustling to the back of the player’s line.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The tactic makes sense to prevent darker pigments from bleeding onto the lighter items.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Dec. 2024
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Instead, the bruises and bleeding in the child’s brain were the lingering result of a traumatic birth.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American-Statesman,
20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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