STING Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

sting 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sting

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

sting

2 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋ

as in to gouge

to charge (someone) too much for goods or services a nightclub that's been stinging patrons for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

undercharge

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

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of sting

Noun

For some, the sting of that cosmic demotion has never gone away. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026 Many beaches use an app to notify bathers when there are multiple stings at a location. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Battered fish and salt-and-vinegar-seasoned chips have been a staple for hundreds of years, best paired with stinging seaside winds and spray. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026 Nidhi, still pleading with her to drop them, followed, the long grass stinging her ankles. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sting

Noun

Fruit extracts clarify excess oil and buildup, while a cooling mint complex and menthol deliver a refreshing tingle, leaving your scalp feeling clean, balanced, and freshly reset.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 June 2026
In the case of Putnam County, that tingle is a roar — our collective sense that the fraud there goes back decades.

— Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026

Definition of tingle

Noun

Off-grid residents blur the line between housed and homeless, as county officials juggle lax enforcement, environmental damage, real estate scams and calls to legalize basic services such as addresses and trash pickup.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
So how can consumers avoid scams and trust real organizations?

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of scam

Verb

The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Also, refrain from pressure washing aggressively, as this can gouge the wood.

— Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026

Definition of gouge

Noun

Colorado has no shortage of important legal priorities, from protecting consumers against fraud to addressing the complex issues facing families and businesses across the state.

— Robin Rossenfeld, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
So far, only one conviction has come out of the sweeping fraud investigation of Loretto’s former executives.

— Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fraud

Verb

Written and rendered by dudes who longed for unlimited success, these are songs about cheating and being cheated on and trying but failing to be content, or love as lived amid capitalist indulgence.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
Cheaters gonna cheat The first step was creating a message board that allowed the agents to pass notes to each other.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of cheat

Verb

These portable, lightweight bands squeeze easily into a suitcase and can be used to add resistance to body weight exercises.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
Job seekers in South Florida are navigating a tricky mix of stubborn inflation, high interest rates and an AI shift that’s squeezing entry-level hiring.

— Jessica Lipscomb, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

stimulus

sting

stinger

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sting

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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