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
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
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent oversaw a series of unorthodox steps aimed at stabilizing Argentine assets after the peso had plunged in the wake of Milei’s party suffering a stinging defeat in a key provincial ballot last month.
—Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), who began the year with hopes of winning the national title only to have those hopes evaporate by early October with three consecutive losses, each one more stinging than the last.
—Travis Johnson, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
In the end, however, Disney handed a stinging defeat to Peltz.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD on YouTube and other social media channels, has already boiled down his thoughts to a stinging verdict.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
While Bernhardt praises her gifts, the French diva doesn’t hold back in her stinging criticism of the production, calling it the same old prewar Italian theater, out of touch with the times.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
All that and the Lakers – who were left scrambling after the Klaw left them hanging – threw together a squad of role-embracing vets who handled the bubble like pros and won the franchise its 17th title, a swift and stinging rebuttal.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The 31-year-old was among dozens who braved stinging brain freeze to win an exclusive Snow King foldable bag.
—Theodora Yu, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025
That’s stinging Americans’ wallets, and many aren’t expecting relief anytime soon.
—Jarrod Barry, NBC news, 24 Nov. 2025
The idea of swarms of stinging insects may have once sent nearby residents hurrying indoors.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
In February, Vance delivered a stinging message to European allies, saying that the biggest threat to Europe did not come from Russia or China, but from within Europe itself, and that he was concerned Europe was moving toward censorship and away from democracy.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
Rather than rob the story of its teeth, this enabled me to explore the pain, loneliness and personal demons of my characters with sympathy rather than stinging bite.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Seawater keeps the jellyfish’s stinging capsules inert.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
On the other side, the investigative news site Mediapart, which first broke news of Sarkozy’s Libya link, and other progressive titles delivered stinging editorials on his conduct.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The more stinging irony here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping probably approved these public statements with a chuckle.
—Verb
But a lackluster performance during that fall's vice presidential debate did little to help the party avoid stinging losses in November 2024.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
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Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
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The conservative activist’s 42-minute video posted the day after Christmas quickly spread, prompting stepped up immigration enforcement, frozen federal funds and more biting rhetoric against the Somali community from President Donald Trump.—
Verb
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Add Tree Guards Although rabbits will sometimes nibble on tree bark in winter, deer are more likely to do serious damage to young trees, either by stripping tree bark away with their teeth or gouging holes in the bark with their antlers.—
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Ahead of its biggest ever World Cup tournament, FIFA has been accused of greed on an industrial scale, gouging the pockets of supporters who are the lifeblood of the game.—
Verb
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Regime change, as it has been practiced and discussed in international politics, refers to something far more ambitious and far more consequential than plucking out a single leader.—
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Regime change, as it has been practiced and discussed in international politics, refers to something far more ambitious and far more consequential than plucking out a single leader.—
Adjective
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He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL's old guard and newer owners.—
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Arugula Arugula is an aromatic, slightly bitter leafy green.—
Verb
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Contessa’s Corner Sports leagues, state gambling regulators and tribal leaders have all raised concerns that prediction market trades on sports don’t have the same level of guardrails as sportsbooks to protect against cheating by athletes, referees, coaches and other insiders.—
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The predictions were that unleashing AI to the world at large would lead to an exponential rise in cheating at school and that student essays would cease to be original.—
Verb
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The Bagail 6-piece Compression Packing Cube Set is just $19 and a game-changer for squeezing extra outfits into a carry-on.—
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To check for ripeness, start by squeezing the fruit—ripe mangos should give slightly under pressure without feeling overly soft or mushy.—
Adjective
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The numbers mark a sharp reversal from a spike in violence during the worst years of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
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The blazer of Middleton’s look included sharp shoulders with sinuous lapels and angular pockets at the waist.—
Verb
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For mop and broom heads and scrub brushes, remove any debris before soaking them in a bucket of hot water, soap, and a disinfecting solution.—
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The 20 accommodations at this 2025 World's Best Award-winning hotel range from manor rooms and suites to freestanding villas, each individually designed and outfitted with high-end touches like soaking tubs, fireplaces, and, in select units, private courtyards or outdoor hot tubs.—
Cite this Entry
“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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