stinging 1 of 2

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

stinging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
  • Many of his biting posts have gone viral, drawing thousands of shares and millions of views.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The criticism from Barney Ronay at The Guardian was even more biting.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The bitter dispute recently tipped into its fourth consecutive month and has escalated.
    Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • What really set it apart was its unique flavor, with a bitter edge akin to horseradish or wasabi.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And no, this isn’t some cheating scandal or love triangle.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Niemann, who had previously admitted to cheating in online games, denied Carlsen's allegations.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Even at such a low price, this unit is packed with features and performance, including a wide 180 degree viewing angle, sharp 2K video, smart object detection and more.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Powell’s latest comments, his most vivid yet on the subject, come just days after the Trump administration unveiled the sharpest ever escalation in US tariffs on data going back 200 years, Fitch Ratings told CNN — even steeper than the expansive tariffs deployed under the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rice water is a starchy liquid that results from soaking the grain in water or cooking it in water, Khetarpal explains.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Consider soaking the area with a warm, wet compress before applying.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As the run progresses, players will earn money by beating rounds (called Blinds) which can be used to purchase Jokers (permanent modifiers and multipliers), Tarot cards (one-time use effects), and Planet cards (poker hand level ups).
    Scott Robertson, Rolling Stone, 24 Dec. 2024
  • From the late glory of beating Manchester City to the stress dream of playing Tottenham and going out of the Carabao Cup, to being beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth.
    Nick Miller, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • This is indeed a car that will reward you for hustling it down a twisty road should the desire arise.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2025
  • And for Lil Baby, one of the hottest artists out at the moment, the transition from hustling in the streets of Atlanta to earning over $100 million in record deals and endorsements came with a harsh financial wake-up call.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The tactic makes sense to prevent darker pigments from bleeding onto the lighter items.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2024
  • Instead, the bruises and bleeding in the child’s brain were the lingering result of a traumatic birth.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Dec. 2024
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stinging

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!