smarting 1 of 3

as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin we had to press on, despite the smarting sleet that was blowing in our faces

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smarting

2 of 3

noun

smarting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of smart

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
  • Created by Tony McNamara, who earned Oscar nominations for his writing work on both The Favourite and Poor Things, The Great offers the same combination of lush costumes and scenery mixed with a biting commentary on the world, and a woman’s place in it.
    Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Her awful journey is a raging scream against the patriarchy and a biting critique of how women are viewed, especially by other women.
    The Week US, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Wen: If someone has a fever and body aches, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are effective over-the-counter oral medications that can be taken to reduce these symptoms.
    Katia Hetter, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Mild symptoms include eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis), a mild fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue and headaches.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The imagery of The Pink Opaque’s Midnight Realm is frightening, but the potent themes and aching nostalgia are what will keep you up at night.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Risotto, in other words, is governed by a set of laws that are rooted in tradition, rich in common sense, and aching to be broken or bent.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Officially, the Black Chamber didn’t exist until 1931, when its founder, Yardley—bitter after an abrupt dismissal—decided to expose it to the world in a tell-all book titled The American Black Chamber.
    Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
  • An article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website said strychnine is a white, odorless, bitter crystalline powder mainly used as a pesticide, particularly used to kill rats.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Markets heaved a sigh of relief and made sharp turnarounds on the news.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
  • The siblings were known for their sharp sense of humor, underscored when both became popular talk show hosts.
    Hassan Tayir, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Now that the hunger pangs have started, here's some National Bagel Day deals to consider.
    Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Everyone experiences pangs of loneliness on occasion.
    Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • So far, the night has been pretty drama free, and all the women seem to be getting along very well, even amid some obvious twinges of jealousy over who has seemingly progressed farther than others with Grant.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The bottom line: For some Democrats, there was more than a twinge of bitterness about just how smoothly the process went.
    Andrew Solender, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Retailers at the show were laser-focused on identifying the latest trends, with a keen eye for strategies to stay competitive in an industry brimming with countless shopping options.
    Faye Brookman, WWD, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Ryan isn’t too keen on Bex asking Shane for details about the prison, and a few others remain preoccupied with covering their tracks and keeping other skeletons tucked away in their respective closets.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near smarting

Cite this Entry

“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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