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
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The latter include non-stinging wasps, flies, and other insects that develop on or in a host, eventually killing it.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 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
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
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2026
With their long stinging tentacles, these big siphonophores do seem like the most likely suspects.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Apr. 2026
Alcohol can be stinging and drying to the skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Meta had the worst week in the group, dropping more than 11% after two stinging court defeats added to the social media company's challenges.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.
—Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slug’s sting especially potent.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 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, 11 Mar. 2026
What hasn’t changed is his sharp, stinging guitar work.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
The latter include non-stinging wasps, flies, and other insects that develop on or in a host, eventually killing it.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 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
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
Verb
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
With their long stinging tentacles, these big siphonophores do seem like the most likely suspects.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Apr. 2026
Alcohol can be stinging and drying to the skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Meta had the worst week in the group, dropping more than 11% after two stinging court defeats added to the social media company's challenges.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.
—Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slug’s sting especially potent.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 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, 11 Mar. 2026
What hasn’t changed is his sharp, stinging guitar work.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The United States pulled off a daring rescue of two aviators whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting off a complicated extraction of the second service member who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.—
Seung Min Kim,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Reminders come too with Emmy winner Jim Parsons, who is deliciously over-the-top as Ruth, Rose's bitter and controlling mother.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Gonzales and Herrera had previously been locked in a bitter battle for the Republican nomination for TX-23, advancing to a runoff election after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most people would agree that cheating and planning a school shooting are hardly equal offenses, and Borgli doesn't totally stick the landing by sweeping Emma's past impulses under the rug.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In the past, Bravo has resumed filming when controversies including its shows have arisen, most notably with the Vanderpump Rules season 10 cheating scandal called Scandoval.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Higher oil prices have sharply increased operating expenses for shipping firms, squeezing margins and forcing governments, including Hong Kong, to step in with temporary support.—
Lee Ying Shan,Emily Tan,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, China has rapidly expanded capacity in its drive to become more self-sufficient, contributing to a global glut of product and squeezing European companies.—
Marilen Martin,
Bloomberg,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
All that credit goes to the co-creators Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and director Tye Blue, who have crafted one of the sharpest books Broadway has seen in years.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
After that, they’re called thornbacks, a thornback being a bottom-feeding skatelike fish with sharp spikes running along its spine.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The layout separates private areas from the main entertaining spaces, with the primary suite set behind pivoting resin doors and comprising a sitting area, dressing space, and a large bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in shower.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid soaking the mattress — over-wetting is one of the most common mistakes people make.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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