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
Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
From online shopping carts to in-store checkout screens, buying something now and paying over time promises a quick way to spread out your payments without the sting of traditional interest.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
And that’s what stings the most.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sting
Noun
While the narrative of that contest ended positively as Everton dug in for a rare victory at Old Trafford, there was a sting in the tail.
—Verb
Touching on his reputation as an exacting, demanding, sometimes even difficult director to work with, Cameron offered rare comments about a joke made at an awards show that still stings over a decade later.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Noun
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This overnight treatment has ceramides to support your lips’ natural moisture barrier and a subtle peppermint flavor for a fresh tingle.—
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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.—
Noun
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Trailer Park Boys is a faux documentary about three petty criminals running scams from their Halifax trailer park and streams on Netflix.—
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Just because Trump thinks climate change is a scam, doesn’t mean the rest of the world agrees.—
Verb
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At Dia, the cage has been reconstructed in full, complete with Hsieh’s boots and his tally marks gouged into the wall.—
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For example, a rock just 11 pounds (5 kilograms) in mass can gouge a crater more than 30 feet (9 meters) wide and eject over 75 metric tons of lunar soil and rock, according to NASA.—
Verb
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But Haise did lead Lens to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, finished one point behind PSG in 2023, and did, to pluck a one-off game out of the ether, oversee a 2-1 win over Arteta’s Arsenal.—
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While Marty Supreme is only loosely inspired by Reisman, there are several sequences and character details plucked from his life.—
Noun
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Studies show that 50 percent of the global population is estimated to suffer from a Vitamin D insufficiency, and this time of year, the effects are even more obvious thanks to a lack of sun exposure—mood swings and fatigue set in, and general aches and pains can become worse.—
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Their days are filled with doctor’s visits and pill bottles, aches and pains.—
Noun
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The president and his allies accused Cook of mortgage fraud.—
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At the same briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came out swinging at Minnesota Democrats in defense of the ICE agent while touting the Medicaid fraud investigation, which dates back to the Biden administration.—
Verb
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The only reason that Bikini Frankenstein does not rank higher on this list is because putting a softcore porno at the top would feel like cheating.—
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But like his predecessor, this Frankenstein is just as obsessed with immortality and cheating death through science.—
Verb
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The Panthers squeezed a few end-of-career seasons out of guys such as Dino Ciccarelli and Igor Larionov.—
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Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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