1
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
the sting of cold air against my face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scam
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
1
2
as in to pluck
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 sting
Brian Sloan, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The three-day undercover sting, known as Operation Summer Sentinel, was led by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
When treating frostbite at this stage, a person might feel stinging, burning and swelling in the affected area.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Noun
The new tax season launched on Monday, and TurboTax is taking some of the sting out of filing by providing its tax prep services free of charge, regardless of your tax situation.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
The three-day undercover sting, known as Operation Summer Sentinel, was led by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
When treating frostbite at this stage, a person might feel stinging, burning and swelling in the affected area.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Noun
-
This overnight treatment has ceramides to support your lips’ natural moisture barrier and a subtle peppermint flavor for a fresh tingle.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Classically a martini-like mix of gin, vodka and dry vermouth, Hawks pumps up the botanical notes in the gin by infusing it with toasted fennel and olive oil, imparting a subtle sweetness and a gentle tingle that lingers on the back palate.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Names, email addresses, birth dates and purchase history can be used to create highly convincing scams.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Sad stories are unfortunately often scam stories, so be wary of them.—
Barbara White,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Resorts gouge their customers at the window, and their customers find a workaround.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Jan. 2026
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The price-gouging allegation dates back to the early months of the pandemic, when panic over shortages led to massive supermarket shopping sprees, and some products, such as eggs, saw sharp price increases.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Guests are invited to become part of the journey — kneading bread, baking cookies, gathering fresh eggs, or plucking herbs for cocktails — while learning how regenerative farming nurtures both flavor and sustainability.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Healthy cells that still have their MGMT gene intact will simply pluck the methyl group back off.—
Isabella Backman,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s ample gore and jumpy moments, but the true scariness here is of the forlorn kind; leads Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen play the mounting nightmare with ache and desperation, elevating the emotional tenor of a dolefully eerie movie.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But Swims buckled into the ballad, standing tall and belting through the song’s inherent ache.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In June, she was invited to appear before the Federal Trade Commission as a panelist to explain the harms of PGM from a consumer fraud perspective.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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When he was arrested on theft and fraud charges in 2023, contractor Ricky McGraw was held up as the poster child for Florida’s crumbling insurance market.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Celia Arguerro, who also has a handicap parking permit, is tired of waiting for reform to catch people cheating the system.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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He likely already would have been inducted were in not for his part in the Astros’ ugly cheating scandal in 2017.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pull upward, squeezing the lat muscle in your upper back at the top.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
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Pour salt onto the stain, then squeeze lemon juice over top.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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