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
1
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
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sting
Khobi Price, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
Bruce was badly bruised by experiences at Newcastle and West Brom, the two jobs that preceded Blackpool where personal criticisms stung.
—Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Amanda Davies, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Get past the sting of this encounter, and do your best to talk to him more.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sting
Verb
With very little time left in the season, how the Lakers respond to Thursday’s stinging defeat could have a significant impact on their playoff outlook.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
Bruce was badly bruised by experiences at Newcastle and West Brom, the two jobs that preceded Blackpool where personal criticisms stung.
—Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
Monger battled jellyfish stings, exhausting winds and energy-sapping heat to finish the course which winds itself around Hawaii’s Big Island.
—Amanda Davies, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Get past the sting of this encounter, and do your best to talk to him more.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting
Verb
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The roof was scorched black and gouged open to the sky, insulation tufting from the walls.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
24 Mar. 2025
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Tickets for the shows are hard to come by as the band is using a face-value ticket exchange to prevent scalpers from gouging fans on the secondary market.—
Ethan Millman,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The White Sox used it last winter to make a significant addition, plucking right-hander Shane Smith from Milwaukee.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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This seaside haven looks like it was plucked from a mid-century souvenir postcard, but a recent $10-million overhaul by Maine hotelier Tim Harrington has ushered the 89-year-old resort into the modern era.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And just as with banking scams and law enforcement scams, keep in mind that any such proactive approach is a scam.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Aura Cost Plans from $9 to $25 per month, billed annually Standout features Protects against identity theft, financial fraud, spam calls, online theft, scam websites, viruses and malware.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The product glides on smooth like butter and leaves behind a faint cooling tingle.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
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That tingle of anxiety will become an old friend, and the feeling of having triumphed over fear will become equally familiar, if not more familiar, than the fear itself.—
Essence,
Essence,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There's a problem these players aren't punished enough for cheating.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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And right when they're embroiled in the ensuing messy separation, new DNA evidence surfaces in Adam's case, the woman Bob cheated with turns up missing, and just like that, Sarah's back in the spotlight.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mike Pavlik, whose family lived across the alley behind ours and who was the leadoff batter on our softball team, squeezed my arm.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
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Consumer confidence has taken a nosedive in 2025 as Americans grow more concerned that inflation could spike again, and tariffs will squeeze their wallets.—
Austin Denean,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The panel also agreed Way acted with malice, oppression or fraud, and awarded her another $250,000 in punitive damages.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Robinson faces five felonies: concealment of a death, identity theft, two counts of financial card theft, financial card fraud and car theft.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The disease moves quickly, with patients experiencing high fever, body aches, weakness, headache, a sore throat and, in some, a red, spotty rash.—
Mark Kortepeter,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The symptoms described—initial fatigue and aches, followed by high fever and a debilitating cough—were similar in several other cases mentioned by SHOT.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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