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
Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
They are known to be foraging predators with tentacles that hold highly poisonous stinging cells, used for both hunting and self-defense, explains the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Moon jellies, like all of their cnidarian cousins, do use their stinging nematocyst cells to catch their prey, Brasher said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025
The Cubs are falling further back from first place in the NL Central, the White Sox are 44-78, and Clarendon Hills suffered a stinging defeat in their opening game of the Little League World Series, losing 16-1.
—Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Lapham also talked about the high of winning the AFC Championship in 1981, followed by the stinging loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl 16.
—Beryl Love, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
One resident offers a stinging rebuke to the journalists who stake their careers on tragedy.
—Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Along the Nantucket Sound shoreline, researchers believe massive groups of unusually large moon jellyfish — a species long thought to be harmless to people — have been stinging many swimmers in nearby Cape Cod towns.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Find out about the equipment and site(s) needed to get started with your own adventure with these stinging insects that produce delicious honey and useful beeswax.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Its windows may be boarded up and shattered and its ‘OPEN’ sign tilting askew, but La Abeja Restaurant is still stinging, hard.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025
This prevents foraging wasps from falling in and stinging you.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Redness, stinging, swelling13 7.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
They are known to be foraging predators with tentacles that hold highly poisonous stinging cells, used for both hunting and self-defense, explains the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Moon jellies, like all of their cnidarian cousins, do use their stinging nematocyst cells to catch their prey, Brasher said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025
The Cubs are falling further back from first place in the NL Central, the White Sox are 44-78, and Clarendon Hills suffered a stinging defeat in their opening game of the Little League World Series, losing 16-1.
—Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Lapham also talked about the high of winning the AFC Championship in 1981, followed by the stinging loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl 16.
—Beryl Love, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
One resident offers a stinging rebuke to the journalists who stake their careers on tragedy.
—Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Along the Nantucket Sound shoreline, researchers believe massive groups of unusually large moon jellyfish — a species long thought to be harmless to people — have been stinging many swimmers in nearby Cape Cod towns.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Find out about the equipment and site(s) needed to get started with your own adventure with these stinging insects that produce delicious honey and useful beeswax.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Its windows may be boarded up and shattered and its ‘OPEN’ sign tilting askew, but La Abeja Restaurant is still stinging, hard.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025
This prevents foraging wasps from falling in and stinging you.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The commercial realities of hosting a network television show seem to preclude the biting and incisive commentary, and boundary-pushing humor, for which audiences have turned to YouTube and podcasts.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Minadeo jumped on Buck's back and put him in a choke hold while gouging at his eyes, according to the lawsuit.—
Craig Shoup,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Critics say the city is gouging ordinary residents and tourists to help balance its budget.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
29 Aug. 2025
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It’s haltingly played, like a child plucking out the notes, to emphasize John’s deep connection to his daughter.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Creative differences led to a bitter falling out between Davies and Hodgson, who left the band in 1983.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
-
But to have the season’s only returning houseguest exit on a twist like this, and not even from gameplay, social standing or an eviction vote leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, to say the least.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Park Min-young played a timid wife seeking revenge on her cheating man in Marry My Husband.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The basic logic of Article XIII is to promote fair play among the 30 teams and prevent teams from cheating.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Row the dumbbell up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While startups occasionally push boundaries with optimization techniques—squeezing more efficiency out of existing silicon—barriers to entry are overwhelmingly high.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There was a sharp spike in job cuts during August, new data shows, as employers shed staff due to a worsening economic picture.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Analysts Craig Moffett’s rating change follows a sharp rally for the tech giant.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each villa has a magnificent plunge pool, a soaking tub, and an open-air living area that seamlessly merges with the outdoors.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Aug. 2025
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Working 1 banana bread slice at a time, dip into egg mixture, soaking about 5 seconds on each side.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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