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
  • But when Afrikaners began to take a serious interest in Mr. Trump’s refugee program, the biting remarks were unleashed.
    Zimasa Matiwane, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Many people with babesiosis don’t feel sick or have symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some may experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever, chills, sweating, body aches, appetite loss, nausea or fatigue.
    Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • Symptoms include persistent fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, per the Virginia Department of Health.
    Tess DeMeyer, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Wiz could be a turning point for an uncertain IPO market and a mergers and acquisitions environment aching from a slowdown in deal activity.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2025
  • In fact, this iteration is a lighter and more cushioned version, with a level of support and shock absorption that ensures your feet are not aching after a day of sightseeing.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, Levi isn’t bitter and blames the reporter for trying to use Gunn to publicly shame him.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 May 2025
  • Where Silverman radically departs from Strindberg’s bitter play is in their portrait of Tekla, who is a spikily delightful self-starter instead of the idiot-monster of the original.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • His equaliser against Leganes in March was a perfect example, with Bellingham sharpest to react when a shot cannoned off the crossbar.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • New technologies such as generative artificial intelligence are helping cybercriminals stage increasingly sophisticated attacks, the World Economic Forum said in a 2025 global cybersecurity outlook, noting a sharp increase in phishing and social engineering attacks last year.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • And yet the extent of the common language for emotional and physical pain is itself remarkable: crushing sadness, pangs of guilt, wrenching news, the need for something to kill the pain.
    Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • And just as suddenly as that dream was about to begin, the pang in Carr’s gut was growing more undeniable.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Richarlison was taken off at half-time, then Maddison and Solanke were taken off after feeling knee and quad twinges respectively.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump's administration is also keen to increase energy exports to India to address a U.S. trade deficit of well over $45 billion in 2024.
    Danish Manzoor Bhat, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Most executives interviewed by KFF Health News — in the hospital, insurance, tech, and consultancy fields — were keen to emphasize that AI would complement humans, not replace them.
    Kff Health News, Oc Register, 22 May 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 6 Jun. 2025.

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