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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
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The socially biting comedy comes out at a time of political unrest in Argentina under Javier Milei’s presidency, a government marked by several funding cuts to culture.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025 -
No one mentioned the annoying swarms of tiny biting midges that plague Scotland’s west coast in the summer.—
Angus MacKinnon,
CNN Money,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Drag slider compare photos Before After Bakhmut After months of bitter clashes since July 2022, the Donetsk city of Bakhmut, north of Avdiivka, fell to Russian forces in May 2023.—
Ellie Cook
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Instead, Holland’s bitter ex-spy Harcourt and Brooks’ empathetic Adebayo are mostly on Chris’ side from the jump this season.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 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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Shumpert’s cheating scandals and arrests for DUI and weed possession didn’t help matters.—
Zoe Guy,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore has welcomed the push on both sides and has emphasized the competition has kept each quarterback sharp knowing the other is ready.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
14 Aug. 2025
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At the same time, Jota’s death has brought certain things into sharp context, about how fragile life — and within that, something like a football career — can be.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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