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
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The scientists found both were composed of a fibrous material that contained many stinging cells called spirocysts, which belong exclusively to the branch of aquatic invertebrates known as cnidarians.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Parasitoids are specialized types of predatory insects that include non-stinging wasps, flies, and other insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Andrew Lichtenstein | Corbis News | Getty Images The Senate on Thursday overturned a mining moratorium in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, a boon for a Chilean mining company subsidiary and a stinging loss for environmentalists trying to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
What’s known as burning or stinging nettles has hairs along the stems that release a stinging, burning compound when touched.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
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
Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Trump was the butt of several stinging jokes made by both President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
But closer analysis revealed it was made of fibrous layers packed with stinging cells, pointing to a connection with cnidarians, the group that includes corals and anemones.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Those feeding polyps have tentacles and stinging cells that trap plankton, then send food to a common digestive system so the entire colony feeds as one.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
The verdict is a stinging rebuke to the Department of Justice, which settled with Live Nation early in the trial, leaving it to the states to litigate to a verdict.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Live Nation ain’t turning the other cheek to a stinging jury verdict today that labeled the Ticketmaster-owning concert and talent promoter a monopoly.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
With a stinging defeat in the rearview mirror, Charles Lee knows the task at hand for the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
In the News Chronicle, published seven months after the rescue, Cox said the raft was initially attacked by a stinging octopus, and that the lost man, severed by a shark, was finished off by a manta ray.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
My eyes, raw and stinging, now filled with their own salty tears.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The scientists found both were composed of a fibrous material that contained many stinging cells called spirocysts, which belong exclusively to the branch of aquatic invertebrates known as cnidarians.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Parasitoids are specialized types of predatory insects that include non-stinging wasps, flies, and other insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Andrew Lichtenstein | Corbis News | Getty Images The Senate on Thursday overturned a mining moratorium in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, a boon for a Chilean mining company subsidiary and a stinging loss for environmentalists trying to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
What’s known as burning or stinging nettles has hairs along the stems that release a stinging, burning compound when touched.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Captain Ethan Ampadu is one of the survivors of that stinging 2024 play-off final defeat.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Trump was the butt of several stinging jokes made by both President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
But closer analysis revealed it was made of fibrous layers packed with stinging cells, pointing to a connection with cnidarians, the group that includes corals and anemones.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Those feeding polyps have tentacles and stinging cells that trap plankton, then send food to a common digestive system so the entire colony feeds as one.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
The verdict is a stinging rebuke to the Department of Justice, which settled with Live Nation early in the trial, leaving it to the states to litigate to a verdict.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Live Nation ain’t turning the other cheek to a stinging jury verdict today that labeled the Ticketmaster-owning concert and talent promoter a monopoly.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
With a stinging defeat in the rearview mirror, Charles Lee knows the task at hand for the Charlotte Hornets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
In the News Chronicle, published seven months after the rescue, Cox said the raft was initially attacked by a stinging octopus, and that the lost man, severed by a shark, was finished off by a manta ray.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
-
The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Run a putty knife along the wet popcorn ceiling to scrape off the popcorn texture, but be careful to avoid gouging the ceiling with the corner of the putty knife.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Beyond the claims itself, evidence released in the trial had revealed some unflattering conversations between Live Nation representatives, perhaps most notably a set of exchanges between two regional employees bragging to each other about gouging concertgoers on ancillary fees and parking spaces.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For some, working with soil evokes nostalgia for childhood summers, smelling thorny roses in bloom and plucking ripe tomatoes off the vine.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Brawley hires football coach After a months-long search, Brawley High School has hired a football coach, plucking Rick Stewart away from Calipatria.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During Chicago’s bitter winter of 2013-2014, the Humboldt Park Lagoon froze over, and snow piled on top of the thick layer of ice, plunging vegetation into a deadly darkness.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Blake Lively agreed to settle her retaliation lawsuit against Justin Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios, dodging a trial over the bitter Hollywood feud weeks before it was set to begin and bringing an end to a conflict that has sparked widespread interest for nearly two years.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Though that 2017 championship is marred by one of the most egregious cheating scandals in baseball history.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Portraits of him as a cheating drunk, who was unfaithful to his first wife, Julia Nye, also surfaced.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Gas prices, housing costs and groceries are squeezing people who are working hard yet still falling behind.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Prices for everything are higher, squeezing already tight budgets to the breaking point, with no end in sight.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Quince consistently delivers with airy linens, crisp cottons, and silhouettes that look sharp right out of a suitcase.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
-
Wallstedt was sharp from the get-go Saturday, including buoying the Wild in killing the two first-period Avalanche power plays.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Your sore muscles will appreciate a soaking tub and heated floors.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
-
The primary suite includes a dressing area and a marble bathroom with radiant heated floors and a soaking tub.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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