smarting 1 of 3

as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin we had to press on, despite the smarting sleet that was blowing in our faces

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smarting

2 of 3

noun

smarting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of smart

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarting
Adjective
  • Many of his biting posts have gone viral, drawing thousands of shares and millions of views.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The criticism from Barney Ronay at The Guardian was even more biting.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Dehydration contributes to headaches, body aches, dry mouth, and fatigue associated with hangovers.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
  • There’s certainly the risk of getting any of the common but often hard-to-deal-with long COVID symptoms like fatigue, muscle aches, breathlessness, headaches, difficulty thinking and alterations in taste listed on the World Health Organization website.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The imagery of The Pink Opaque’s Midnight Realm is frightening, but the potent themes and aching nostalgia are what will keep you up at night.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Risotto, in other words, is governed by a set of laws that are rooted in tradition, rich in common sense, and aching to be broken or bent.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • To add to Ferrari’s woes, Hamilton was also disqualified from sixth as the rear skid block on his car failed to meet the minimum thickness requirement – a bitter pill to swallow for the Brit who had secured his first victory for the team in the sprint earlier in the weekend.
    Yara Elshebiny, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Some instant coffee is made with Robusta beans, which can be a bit bitter.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That sharp increase is driving many consumers to cut back on non-essentials like snack foods, according to market research firm NIQ.
    Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Her wardrobe has more than just a whiff of the Cruella de Vil about it, all sharp black suits with dramatically curling high necks, and some (like this one) with mirror embellishments that look potentially dangerous.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Every day brings a sigh of relief and a pang of nostalgia.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Rosie O'Donnell encourages Americans to 'protect your sanity' Although the Emmy-winning host has been enjoying the warm reception from her Irish neighbors, O'Donnell also shared the pangs of homesickness she's been experiencing.
    Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But these little twinges the audience might feel about everyone being mortal only added, if anything, to the evening’s personal potency, and the vitality of a reconvening of the tribe that supported the Wilson sisters from the outset, along with strays picked up during the MTV years.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Then, as the show progresses into new story lines and the rest of the cast tries to carry on without their key player, almost like a phantom limb, the audience feels a constant twinge that something is missing.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024
Adjective
  • Torrens’s work inspired me to find out more about Lascelles, who revealed himself to be a man of wit and keen insight in ...
    George Weigel, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025
  • And, in public, many top executives are keen to praise Trump and show close relations with the White House.
    Justin Worland/Houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
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

“Smarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarting. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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