1
as in gouged
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services
a nightclub that's been stinging patrons for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheated
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
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Recent Examples of stung
Facing such a talent deficit against a full-strength Knicks team, every turnover stung for the longtime coach.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Getting fired had clearly stung, but his love for Orlando had not faded.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
The best illustration of Voros’ power and essential role in making The Madison less bad than it might have otherwise been comes in the second episode, when Paige gets stung by hornets in the Montana cabin’s outhouse.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
The loss stung, but a two-loss season had to have been some consolation for the mid-major.
—Zach Powell, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
After the match, that loss really stung.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Further down the supply chain, former Army Ranger Patrick Montgomery, who runs KC Cattle Company, located outside Kansas City, Missouri, has been stung by high prices.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Further down the supply chain, former Army Ranger Patrick Montgomery, who runs KC Cattle Company, located outside Kansas City, Missouri, has been stung by high prices.
—Enda Curran, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Steve died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray at the Batt Reef off the coast of Australia.
—Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Getting fired had clearly stung, but his love for Orlando had not faded.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
The best illustration of Voros’ power and essential role in making The Madison less bad than it might have otherwise been comes in the second episode, when Paige gets stung by hornets in the Montana cabin’s outhouse.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
The loss stung, but a two-loss season had to have been some consolation for the mid-major.
—Zach Powell, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
After the match, that loss really stung.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Further down the supply chain, former Army Ranger Patrick Montgomery, who runs KC Cattle Company, located outside Kansas City, Missouri, has been stung by high prices.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Further down the supply chain, former Army Ranger Patrick Montgomery, who runs KC Cattle Company, located outside Kansas City, Missouri, has been stung by high prices.
—Enda Curran, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Steve died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray at the Batt Reef off the coast of Australia.
—Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stung
Verb
-
In a development as predictable as the Yankees overpaying for talent, viewers grew increasingly weary of getting gouged like that and responded with a wave of cord-cutting that has now ensured that OPM is no longer a viable option for RSNs.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
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The department was able to give back about $103,891 in restitution to the tenant who was gouged, Carbajal said.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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So those Santa Ana constituents would be cheated out of services if the money remained solely in the First District.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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Increasingly bitter about being cheated, and decreasingly able or willing to hide it, Rick exhibits erratic behavior that alienates his friends, his family, his band.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Domestic flights will also get surcharged.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The three of us squeezed into our bedroom closet and huddled over my phone.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Tkachuk controlled the loose puck in the crease and squeezed it past goalie Ilya Sorokin for the comeback victory.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The petition asks for an independent review of Duke Energy’s billing system to determine whether customers have been overcharged and calls on the company to issue refunds if discrepancies are found.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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Recent Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission filings show that the Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC overcharged more than 3,500 customers for their gas service.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The team was always clear that the cast needed to be mostly up-and-coming talent, many of whom have been plucked from the growing world of social media comedy.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
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Oreade, the fine dining restaurant, is where Chef Riccardo Bacciottini unleashes his creativity and technical prowess, using local ingredients (many plucked right from the hotel’s gardens) to make sublime dishes like tomato tartare with basil and miso or artichokes confited with pepper sauce.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Between damp docks, muddy trails, and the occasional drizzle, they were quickly soaked and scuffed.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
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Water poured from the toilet and soaked the basement.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Skin torn off the top of LeBron James’ knee, the Lakers star sharing a photo to Instagram on Monday morning, is somehow a representative image of how the team hustled its way to a five-game winning streak.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Gonzales hustled down the line on the play.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stung. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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