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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stings
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
But losing two players with first-round potential in McNeil and Able stings.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Purple flags were also raised to warn beachgoers of the danger of jellyfish stings.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
However, the reaction may vary from person to person, and may be worse for someone who is allergic to insect stings.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Schmidt, who was research director of the Southwest Biological Institute, sorted stings into four tiers of pain, from the mildly annoying to the intensely painful.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Other stings by Lampros have similarly led police to evidence of further crimes, police reports show.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The uncertainty of it all stings.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Those bars were also the site of police stings related to cocaine dealing, underage alcohol sales and flouting COVID-era business rules.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The team had the best record in the major leagues as recently as June 13 of last season before collapsing and missing the postseason — a collapse that still stings for fans.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Someone Ederra knows has died, and the pain stings.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
That role, and the vitriol from within the industry toward the movie (a flop turned cult favorite), still stings.
—Cat Woods, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The result stings, but the fightback should give them confidence to carry forward.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
That still stings 30 years later.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
For the show’s devoted fanbase, the loss stings — but there’s no shortage of series ready to fill the void.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Of Iran’s many squandered possibilities, the waste of our soft power stings the most.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
While Thursday’s loss stings, Bubic is hopeful KC can rebound this weekend.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
But losing two players with first-round potential in McNeil and Able stings.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Purple flags were also raised to warn beachgoers of the danger of jellyfish stings.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
However, the reaction may vary from person to person, and may be worse for someone who is allergic to insect stings.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Schmidt, who was research director of the Southwest Biological Institute, sorted stings into four tiers of pain, from the mildly annoying to the intensely painful.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Other stings by Lampros have similarly led police to evidence of further crimes, police reports show.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The uncertainty of it all stings.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Those bars were also the site of police stings related to cocaine dealing, underage alcohol sales and flouting COVID-era business rules.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
That’s the part that stings the most.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The team had the best record in the major leagues as recently as June 13 of last season before collapsing and missing the postseason — a collapse that still stings for fans.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Someone Ederra knows has died, and the pain stings.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
That role, and the vitriol from within the industry toward the movie (a flop turned cult favorite), still stings.
—Cat Woods, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The result stings, but the fightback should give them confidence to carry forward.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
That still stings 30 years later.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
For the show’s devoted fanbase, the loss stings — but there’s no shortage of series ready to fill the void.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Of Iran’s many squandered possibilities, the waste of our soft power stings the most.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stings
Noun
-
Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes and online scams in 2025 alone, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Through meticulous reporting, the series reveals the complex operations behind modern scams, featuring stories of victims and scammers, while prompting global conversations among leaders in technology and policy to address this escalating crisis.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gibson cited increasingly severe stomach pains and diarrhea across several days as her family's symptoms.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2017, he was recalled after backing the $5 billion yearly gas tax that still gouges at the pump.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Carrera now plucks the melody in single notes.—
Peter Wayne Moe,
Longreads,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But if Rick later plucks something from behind that rock at the fire, are others going to start poking around looking for stuff?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
An electronic safety system monitors each cell during operations, avoiding both under- and overcharges.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
22 Aug. 2017
Verb
-
For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy by denying it long-term cash flow.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each tablet contains 200 milligrams of ibuprofen and is one of the best over-the-counter pain relievers for those suffering from conditions such as muscular aches, minor arthritis pain, toothache, backache, menstrual cramps or minor aches.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Watch for a bull’s-eye rash or flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches and nausea in the days and weeks following a bite.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stings. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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