Synonyms of stings

stings 1 of 2

noun

plural of sting

1

as in scams

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

the pawn shop operation turned out to be a sting by undercover police officers to catch the ring of burglars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scams
• frauds
• shell games
• swindles
• hustles
• devices
• fiddles
• hoaxes
• cons
• schemes
• buncos
• flimflams
• tricks
• crosses
• rackets
• counterfeits
• pyramid schemes
• fixes
• dodges
• jigs
• Ponzi schemes
• sleights
• stratagems
• wiles
• rip-offs
• fakes
• phonies
• ploys
• gimmicks
• shams
• forgeries
• thimblerigs
• three-card montes
• humbug

2

as in pains

a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body

the sting of cold air against my face

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pains
• tingles
• aches
• pangs
• stitches
• pricks
• swellings
• twinges
• shoots
• smarts
• throes
• sores
• hurts
• discomforts
• distresses
• sufferings
• inflammations
• headaches
• injuries
• tortures
• damages
• harms
• miseries
• agonies
• torments
• anguishes
• stomachaches
• toothaches
• afflictions
• gripes
• earaches
• colics
• bellyaches
• complaints
• backaches
• detriments
• sufferances
• charley horses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comforts
• eases

stings

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sting

1

as in gouges

to charge (someone) too much for goods or services

a nightclub that's been stinging patrons for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gouges
• overcharges
• surcharges
• soaks
• cheats
• sticks
• clips
• defrauds
• fleeces
• skins
• mischarges

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undercharges

2

as in plucks

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

swindlers who sting unwary tourists by posing as officials demanding money

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plucks
• squeezes
• hustles
• sticks
• cheats
• beats
• does
• bleeds
• screws
• deceives
• suckers
• shorts
• victimizes
• tricks
• cozens
• swindles
• gaffs
• fiddles
• shakes down
• hoses
• defrauds
• diddles
• shortchanges
• mulcts
• skunks
• skins
• rips off
• exploits
• chisels
• bilks
• reams
• fleeces
• fools
• stiffs
• rooks
• cons
• nobbles
• betrays
• flimflams
• chouses
• does in
• extorts
• wrenches
• clips
• euchres
• takes to the cleaners
• thimblerigs
• nicks
• sells a bill of goods to
• gouges
• soaks
• takes for a ride
• overcharges
• wrings
• milks
• wrests
• dupes
• gulls
• bitches
• ropes (in)
• bamboozles
• double-crosses
• fast-talks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stings

Noun

Caterpillar hairs floated on the water’s surface, leaving swimmers with a necklace of red stings. — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

This was in the era of mail-order CD clubs, when radio stations would pay $100 a month for one or two CDs full of background music to produce ads or stings. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026

Some new hires with flawless academic records may struggle the first time a project stalls or feedback stings. — Joash Lee, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Anyone with a known allergy to insect stings should never attempt to remove a wasp nest themselves. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Their arrival adds to a growing list of invasive marine species affecting the Atlantic, including jellyfish with painful stings, which were recently documented along the Jersey Shore. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 15 July 2026

The Chicago Police Department also carries out undercover stings at small massage parlors after the city receives complaints of vice activity. — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Preventing hornets from nesting in your eaves keeps your home safer and reduces the risk of stings. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 July 2026

The fact that Patel has no criminal record and is not required to be on probation stings for San Mateo County Dist. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Verb

For van Ess, the decision particularly stings because Google Earth has long been regarded as one of the best tools to verify information posted on social media. — Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 31 July 2026

The female locates and stings a large insect such as a cicada or katydid and then brings it back to the burrow. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

That still stings, even if Wicky wasn’t one of the three to attempt a penalty. — Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

If feedback stings, take a breath, separate taste from task, and keep what improves the result. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

For Martin, that statement still stings. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Considering Dylan Holloway was that pick, and the Oilers haven’t found much in any round of all the drafts since, the irony stings for fans of the team. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Nothing stings quite like being steps from getting your credit card out to make a glorious purchase, and finding that your promo code isn’t working. — Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026

This stings even more on the heels of Hyatt’s award chart overhaul, which now has five price tiers instead of three. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 10 June 2026