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
  • Chad and Darlene confide in each other and bond, a little too closely, over their similar biting humor.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The following day, during an episode on his Never Shut Up podcast and YouTube show, Wiley compared Clark’s remarks in reaction to Jackson’s defeat to his more biting words following Allen’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s NFL Divisional Playoff Round.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Dehydration contributes to headaches, body aches, dry mouth, and fatigue associated with hangovers.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Arising 4-6 weeks after exposure, common symptoms include sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and head and body aches.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 17 Mar. 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
  • If brewed too hot, the green tea will be bitter; some high-end Japanese green tea need temps as cool as 160ºF. If brewed too cool, the black teas will lack sweetness.
    Jesse Raub, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The stakes couldn't have been higher, and the atmosphere was electric as the two WWE Superstars prepared to finally settle their bitter grudge.
    Russ Weakland, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Strange Journey arrives at one of the last moments when its core journey isn’t tinged with melancholy and mortality, with Curry still in strong and enthusiastic form after his 2012 stroke and most of the other principals coming across with sharp, high-personality memories.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Redfin — The real estate stock fell about 7%, giving back some of the previous session’s sharp gain.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Rosie O'Donnell encourages Americans to 'protect your sanity' Although the Emmy-winning host has been enjoying the warm reception from her Irish neighbors, O'Donnell also shared the pangs of homesickness she's been experiencing.
    Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
  • There’s a romantic pang to these characters not quite reaching their full potential.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But these little twinges the audience might feel about everyone being mortal only added, if anything, to the evening’s personal potency, and the vitality of a reconvening of the tribe that supported the Wilson sisters from the outset, along with strays picked up during the MTV years.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Then, as the show progresses into new story lines and the rest of the cast tries to carry on without their key player, almost like a phantom limb, the audience feels a constant twinge that something is missing.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024
Adjective
  • Honda, for example, is looking into similar technology, though other automakers haven’t been as keen, perhaps in part because demand for EVs has recently slowed.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2025
  • While Gen Z has been characterized by some hiring teams as more difficult to train and less likely to be a team player, the younger generation is actually more keen to return to the office than others might suspect.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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