as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
these cold, stinging winds are not just a discomfort—they can be dangerous to exposed flesh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gouging
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 plucking
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 stinging
Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The most stinging examples involved longtime partner and close personal friend Ryan Lindgren, and more recently, Panarin.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Those, and other comments, had surprised some onlookers, and led to author Arundhati Roy cancelling her visit to the festival and penning a stinging rebuke.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
After a stinging loss at Wichita State over the weekend, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is still figuring out why the Tigers aren't playing their best.
—Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 25 Jan. 2026
The itchy rash is accompanied by intense stinging, pain, and burning.
—Fara Rosenzweig, Outside, 24 Jan. 2026
Powell disclosed it with a stinging online rebuke last Sunday.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The more stinging irony here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping probably approved these public statements with a chuckle.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Justice Benjamin Curtis, from Massachusetts, wrote a stinging dissent and resigned from the Court shortly afterward, reportedly in part because of the decision.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Meta had the worst week in the group, dropping more than 11% after two stinging court defeats added to the social media company's challenges.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.
—Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slug’s sting especially potent.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
What hasn’t changed is his sharp, stinging guitar work.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
However, even with that stinging loss, Musero’s attorney is riding the wave generated by the lists coming out.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a setback when his conservatives lost a regional election to the Greens, a stinging blow for the unpopular German leader compounded by a jump in support for the far right.
—Michael Nienaber, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Beekeeping Frisco businessman Nate Sheets had a comfortable lead over three-term Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in a heated Republican primary Tuesday after roughly half the votes were tallied, a stinging initial victory in a race roiled by an unusual split at the top of the GOP.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
The most stinging examples involved longtime partner and close personal friend Ryan Lindgren, and more recently, Panarin.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Those, and other comments, had surprised some onlookers, and led to author Arundhati Roy cancelling her visit to the festival and penning a stinging rebuke.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
After a stinging loss at Wichita State over the weekend, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is still figuring out why the Tigers aren't playing their best.
—Corinne S Kennedy, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 25 Jan. 2026
The itchy rash is accompanied by intense stinging, pain, and burning.
—Fara Rosenzweig, Outside, 24 Jan. 2026
Powell disclosed it with a stinging online rebuke last Sunday.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
The more stinging irony here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping probably approved these public statements with a chuckle.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Justice Benjamin Curtis, from Massachusetts, wrote a stinging dissent and resigned from the Court shortly afterward, reportedly in part because of the decision.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Alcohol can be stinging and drying to the skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Meta had the worst week in the group, dropping more than 11% after two stinging court defeats added to the social media company's challenges.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, still stinging from their unexpected Round of 16 Champions Cup elimination midweek, now turn their focus squarely on the MLS season for the next few months until the league breaks for the World Cup.
—Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The institute and federal ocean officials say those appendages, called cerata, hold the stinging cells in a concentrated form, making the slug’s sting especially potent.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
If these stinging insects are nesting in your yard, look for the things that might be attracting wasps and learn how to keep them away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
What hasn’t changed is his sharp, stinging guitar work.
—Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
However, even with that stinging loss, Musero’s attorney is riding the wave generated by the lists coming out.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a setback when his conservatives lost a regional election to the Greens, a stinging blow for the unpopular German leader compounded by a jump in support for the far right.
—Michael Nienaber, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
However, the number of rent-gouging complaints received by the county continues to increase.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And don’t forget the era of over-plucking—ahem, from the currently trending ‘90s—which resulted in super-thin eyebrows that never really fully grew back.—
Ana Morales,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Prices run from €16 for a burrata cheese and tomato bruschetta to €25 for foie gras with bitter marmalade.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Schottenheimer’s latest comments inject optimism and a sense of patience from the Cowboys’ sideline, pushing back against speculation of a bitter standoff or imminent trade.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An angler competing in a walleye derby on Saskatchewan’s Montreal Lake was kicked out of the ice-fishing tournament Saturday after being accused of cheating.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Last year, a dozen people were charged with using and selling a smog-check cheating device.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The videos have pulled back the curtain on ingredient shifts across some of the company’s most recognizable products — and a surging cocoa market that’s squeezing the entire candy industry.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Pios led 4-1 after a period and put the clamps down, methodically squeezing the clock and the Broncos’ hopes of a repeat title, a shift at a time.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The first was a gentle bell curve; the second was a jagged line, with two sharp peaks—one on the left, the other on the right.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The 5-foot-9 rookie infielder looks like a special hitter with sharp instincts on the basepaths.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My favorite corner housed the freestanding soaking tub, where Blue Lagoon bath salts sit on a side table for easy access.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Lentils don't need soaking, so once your ingredients are prepped and ready, simply toss them in your slow cooker before going about your day.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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