sting

1 of 2

verb

stung ˈstəŋ How to pronounce sting (audio) ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ How to pronounce sting (audio)

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

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 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
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

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
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.
Verb
One day later Miami would kick off its plans for 2025 right by landing former Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck in the transfer portal (more on that in a bit), but, still, this Orange Bowl had to sting Cristobal over all that might have been. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025 That loss hurt, of course, and losing the Super Bowl this time around would sting, too. Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
Dalin was gracious in the moment, but those close to him and the campaign acknowledge that the sting was real. George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025 Understanding why employers lean towards internal hires provides clarity and reduces the emotional sting of rejection. Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sting 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sting was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sting

Cite this Entry

“Sting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sting. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb
stung ˈstəŋ How to pronounce sting (audio) ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ How to pronounce sting (audio)
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
stingless
ˈstiŋ-ləs
adjective

Medical Definition

sting

1 of 2 verb
stung ˈstəŋ How to pronounce sting (audio) ; stinging ˈstiŋ-iŋ How to pronounce sting (audio)

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

Legal Definition

sting

noun
: an elaborate confidence game
specifically : such a game worked by undercover police in order to catch criminals

More from Merriam-Webster on sting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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