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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stings
Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
And sure, Crosby being out for at least a couple of more weeks stings.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 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
For a city that helped define the modern Harry Styles concert era, the omission stings.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
Bee stings are common in summer, but knowing proper first aid can help reduce pain, swelling, and the risk of further irritation.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
As much as that stings for Chiefs fans, the more pressing concern was Mahomes’ health.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
Soothe Mosquito Bites And Bee Stings A baking soda paste can help soothe irritation from bug bites and stings.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
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
This stings less thanks to the healthy variety of all-timers currently in the field.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Losing Sproat stings as a player the Mets drafted twice and developed into a big-league starter, but the right-hander out of the University of Florida is still unproven.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Smith’s squad finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season with 59 points before falling to New York City FC in the opening round, a defeat that still stings months later.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Other stings by Lampros have similarly led police to evidence of further crimes, police reports show.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
And sure, Crosby being out for at least a couple of more weeks stings.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 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
For a city that helped define the modern Harry Styles concert era, the omission stings.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 22 Jan. 2026
Bee stings are common in summer, but knowing proper first aid can help reduce pain, swelling, and the risk of further irritation.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
As much as that stings for Chiefs fans, the more pressing concern was Mahomes’ health.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
Soothe Mosquito Bites And Bee Stings A baking soda paste can help soothe irritation from bug bites and stings.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
This stings less thanks to the healthy variety of all-timers currently in the field.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Losing Sproat stings as a player the Mets drafted twice and developed into a big-league starter, but the right-hander out of the University of Florida is still unproven.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Smith’s squad finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season with 59 points before falling to New York City FC in the opening round, a defeat that still stings months later.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stings
Noun
-
This issue will keep getting worse — and lost dollars will continue to grow — if our country’s leaders fail to implement smart policies to prevent scams.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Investigators believe some of the scams are coordinated by inmates inside Georgia prisons with help from people on the outside.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That’s why civil servants in national security, disaster relief and federal science have long taken pains to avoid the political fray.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Because the somewhat complex antitrust case is being tried before a 12-person jury, each party took pains to lay out the process, and provide visual explainers, about how an artist works with promoters and others to book a tour, and who profits.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 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
-
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
-
The first layer, called the Level-1 Trigger, or L1T, harvests 100,000 events per second, and the second layer, called the High-Level Trigger, or HLT, plucks 1,000 of those events to save for later analysis.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 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
-
Drew Angerer / Getty Images file For months, school officials have floated proposals to relocate or close at least four middle schools on the Upper West Side, citing low enrollment, funding squeezes, academic performance and compliance with a 2022 law requiring class-size reductions by 2028.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
-
While most bullion coins track spot closely, certain products remain in higher demand during supply squeezes or retail rushes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Like Blackwood, he’s been fighting through an assortment of aches and pains over the last 10-12 weeks himself.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In games like Tuesday, when that deep postseason run seems realistic, UCLA pops the ball around on offense and communicates and hustles to overcome its deficiencies on defense.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Compared to the behemoth Acela, which hustles hundreds of thousands of riders between Boston, New York City, and Washington DC each month, Amtrak's Mardi Gras line is downright petite—just two 58-seat coaches, plus a café car and a 14-seat Business Class car.—
Kara Newman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stings. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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