Synonyms of stinging

stinging 1 of 2

adjective

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

• biting
• bitter
• sharp
• penetrating
• brisk
• piercing
• keen
• cutting
• smarting
• raw
• shrewd
• caustic
• tingling
• prickly
• corrosive
• snappy
• invigorating
• needlelike
• nippy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• gentle
• soothing
• balmy

stinging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sting

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

• gouging
• cheating
• soaking
• overcharging
• surcharging
• sticking
• clipping
• defrauding
• fleecing
• skinning
• mischarging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undercharging

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

• plucking
• squeezing
• cheating
• beating
• hustling
• sticking
• bleeding
• screwing
• doing
• deceiving
• reaming
• gaffing
• mulcting
• hosing
• fiddling
• victimizing
• rooking
• fleecing
• shaking down
• defrauding
• chiseling
• swindling
• tricking
• cozening
• shortchanging
• shorting
• suckering
• wrenching
• skinning
• stiffing
• exploiting
• ripping off
• bilking
• diddling
• conning
• betraying
• skunking
• nobbling
• doing in
• flimflamming
• chousing
• clipping
• thimblerigging
• fooling
• taking for a ride
• gouging
• euchring
• taking to the cleaners
• extorting
• wringing
• nicking
• soaking
• selling a bill of goods to
• overcharging
• milking
• wresting
• gulling
• bitching
• duping
• double-crossing
• bamboozling
• roping (in)
• fast-talking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stinging

Adjective

At an early New York screening, Douglas recalls Wall Street traders being stunned by the film’s stinging accuracy. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Biting and stinging arthropods, such as wasps, mosquitos and spiders, account for five states. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

That move came just as the clock was running out Friday on stopgap levies the president imposed after a stinging defeat for other tariffs at the Supreme Court. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

The researchers' device aims to solve the stinging problem by physically preventing this meeting (unfortunately no images of it are available at this time). — New Atlas, 30 June 2026

Since September of 2024, federal science agencies in the US have axed nearly 120,000 employees, in a stinging loss for public research. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 June 2026

Jean-Philippe Mateta, named in France’s World Cup squad earlier this month, reacted superbly after Rayo keeper Augusto Batalla could only parry a stinging Wharton shot from the edge of the box. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Coming up short in the 2025 ISL boys lacrosse championship left a stinging sensation for Tabor Academy. — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 17 May 2026

Parasitoids are non-stinging wasps, flies, and other insects that develop on or in a host, eventually killing it. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026

Verb

Indy struggled against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in its season opener, then took a stinging 33-30 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. — Elise Devlin, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2026

As of today, with that $7 million ticking fee to WBD shareholders kicking in October 1 and Ellison’s leaked threat to pull up HQ stakes outta the Golden State still stinging, the deal still sits in legal limbo. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

And in the Northwest, unseasonably warm temperatures combined with drier fall conditions may extend ant and stinging insect activity. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Sep. 2026

Some baby hummingbirds disguise themselves as caterpillars with stinging hairs to avoid predators, while octopus, squid, and cuttlefish use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and hide. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

How to prevent wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets Proactive maintenance can keep stinging insects from setting up home on your property. — Nick Perry, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Democrats, fresh off of stinging losses in the 2024 election up and down the ballot, have rebounded with their voting base and independents unhappy with the status quo. — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026

Top legislators have concerns that such a move would have led insurers to further raise premiums across a state where homeowners are already stinging from recent rate increases. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2026

The breakthrough clue was its cnidocysts, specialized cells found in invertebrates such as jellyfish and corals that contain their stinging bits. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026