sting

1 of 2

verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to prick painfully: such as

a

: to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process

b

: to affect with sharp quick pain or smart

hail stung their faces

2

: to cause to suffer acutely

stung with remorse

3

: overcharge, cheat

intransitive verb

1

: to wound one with or as if with a sting

2

: to feel a keen burning pain or smart

also : to cause such pain

stingingly

ˈstiŋ-iŋ-lē 

adverb

sting

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

specifically : the thrust of a stinger into the flesh

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 2

3

: a sharp or stinging element, force, or quality

4

: an elaborate confidence game

specifically : such a game worked by undercover police in order to trap criminals

Synonyms

Verb

• gouge
• cheat
• overcharge
• surcharge

Noun

• scam
• fraud

Examples of sting in a Sentence

Verb

I got stung by a bee.

The jellyfish stung the swimmer.

The bees will sting if you bother them.

The iodine will sting for a few minutes.

The cold rain stung my eyes.

The smoke made our eyes sting.

She was stung by their harsh criticism.

Noun

When you get the shot, you'll feel a little sting.

His arm was covered with bee stings.

They were caught in a drug sting.

a sting operation by police

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Perhaps the loss, coupled with seeing Parsons thrive in Green Bay as the Packers get off to a hot start, is stinging the Cowboys’ top cornerback in Week 1. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Lim said he was stung by the spinoff news and its exclusion of the expansive cast. —Mekishana Pierre September 8, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Noun

The matte, blasted steel and titanium case is comfortable on its textured rubber strap, and the satellite hours and a 240° retrograde minutes hand that snaps back like a scorpion’s sting at the turn of each hour will spark dozens of conversations. —Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025

The long game Two years earlier in Wisconsin, Viskari walked off the 18th green with a 78 on his card and the sting of a collapse on his shoulders. —Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English stingan; akin to Old Norse stinga to sting and probably to Greek stachys spike of grain, stochos target, aim

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sting

• sting for

Rhymes for sting

• bing
• bring
• ching
• cling
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming

Kids Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

1

a

: to prick painfully especially with a sharp or poisonous stinger

stung by a bee

b

: to affect with or feel quick piercing pain or smart

hail stung their faces

2

: to cause to suffer mentally

stung with regret

3

: overcharge sense 1, cheat

got stung on the deal

4

: to use a stinger

bees sting

sting

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 2

stingless

ˈstiŋ-ləs

adjective

Medical Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb

ˈstiŋ 

stung ˈstəŋ  ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to prick painfully: as

a

: to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process

b

: to affect with sharp quick pain

intransitive verb

: to feel or cause a keen burning pain or smart

the injection stung

sting

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of stinging

specifically : the thrust of a stinger into the flesh

b

: a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging

2

: stinger sense 1

Legal Definition

sting

noun

: an elaborate confidence game

specifically : such a game worked by undercover police in order to catch criminals