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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stinging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinging
Adjective
  • Now, 72 hours after being purged because they were considered probationary workers, a biting reality has set in for many of them.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
  • For example, a trip to Everglades National Park at the peak of summer could overlap with hurricane season or generally have higher biting insect activity and humid heat.
    Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The bitter exchange was unlike any other in the Oval Office in modern times. 13:43 With Ukraine's future in the balance, a high-stakes meeting on Friday between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into a shouting match.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Their bond defies centuries of tradition, where vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Feb. 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
  • But low trust in media and institutions, political gridlock, lobbyist influence and sharp inequalities persist.
    Avery Lotz, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Hamas had been displaying living hostages and coffins carrying hostage remains on stage in front of a crowd in Gaza before handing them over, to sharp criticism including from the United Nations.
    Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 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
  • With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until combined, about 2 minutes total.
    Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Stinging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinging. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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