Sting can mean a painful wound from an insect, a sharp feeling of pain, a police trap to catch criminals, or a scamA dishonest trick used to take money or deceive people. that cheats people. It is also a verb meaning to prickTo make a tiny sharp hole or jab into something. or hurt with a sharp sensationA physical feeling in the body, especially one from touching or pain..

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /stɪŋ/

Easy pronunciation: STING (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable; the stress is on the whole word.

Use this for the noun meaning a painful wound caused by an insect's stinger.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Sting Meaning

the painful mark or swelling left by an insect sting

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a painful wound caused by the thrust of an insect's stinger into skin

Example: She rubbed the sting on her arm after the bee flew away.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• bite — Can work in everyday speech for an insect injury, though it is broader and not always exact.
• insect bite — Used loosely for the result of an insect attack, but it is not the same as a true sting in all cases.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Sting

Meaning 2

a sudden feeling of emotional hurt

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a mental pain or distress

Example: His criticism left a sting that lasted all day.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• pang — A strong fit for sudden emotional pain.

Meaning 3

a police trap set to catch someone doing something illegal

Part of speech: noun

Definition: operation designed to catch a person committing a criminal act

Example: The police conducted a sting operation to catch the thieves.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• sting operation — This is the fixed phrase for this sense.

Meaning 4

to hurt with a stinger or sharp point

Part of speech: verb

Definition: deliver a sting to

Example: The wasp stung him on the neck.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• bite — Can fit some insect actions, but it is not a precise substitute in every case.
• prick — Works when something pierces the skin with a sharp point.

Meaning 5

to cause a sharp, prickling pain

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause a stinging pain

Example: The antiseptic stung on the cut.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• prick — A good match for sharp localized pain.
• twinge — Can overlap, but usually suggests a brief mild pain rather than a true sting.

Meaning 6

to cause a sharp pain or burning discomfort

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

Example: Smoke stung my eyes.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• bite — Can describe a sharp unpleasant sensation, but it is less exact and more figurative.
• burn — Can fit some cases of unpleasant heat or irritation, though it is not always interchangeable.

Meaning 7

a sudden sharp pain or hurting feeling

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung

Example: He felt the sting of the cold wind on his face.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• stinging — Closely related and workable for this pain sense.

Meaning 8

a scam or con that cheats someone out of money

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property

Example: He lost his savings in an elaborate sting.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• bunco — A type of swindle; old-fashioned but valid.
• bunco game — Specific scam term, though less common.
• bunko — A valid synonym for this kind of scam.
• bunko game — Specific scam term, though less common.
• con — General, common term for a scam.
• con game — Common phrase for a scam.
• confidence game — Standard term for a planned swindle.
• confidence trick — Good synonym for a scam or swindle.
• flimflam — Informal but accurate for a deceitful swindle.
• hustle — Can mean a scam in this sense, though it has other common meanings too.

Meaning 9

to leave someone with something unpleasant or unwanted

Part of speech: verb

Definition: saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous

Example: They stung him with the repair bill.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• stick — Can work in this figurative sense, but it is broader and less precise.

Meaning 10

to hurt someone's feelings deeply

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging

Example: Her words stung more than she intended.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Sting Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• pang

police trap to catch criminals

• sting operation

sharp physical pain or irritation

• prick
• burn

scam or swindle

• con
• confidence trick
• flimflam

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Using sting operation as a synonym for the insect or pain senses.
• Confusing sting with bite in contexts where the insect action is specifically a sting, not a bite.
• Treating all uses of sting as the same meaning when it can refer to pain, emotion, police work, or scams.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common meaning of sting?

The most common everyday meaning is the painful effect caused by an insect's stinger or a sharp painful sensation.

Is sting a noun or a verb?

It can be both. As a noun, it can mean the pain, the wound, a police trap, or a scam. As a verb, it can mean to prick or cause sharp pain.

What are the best synonyms for sting?

It depends on the sense. For emotional pain, pang works well. For a scam, con or confidence trick are good choices. For physical pain, prick or burn may fit in some contexts.

Does sting always mean pain?

No. It can also mean a police operation to catch criminals or a fraudulent scheme.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.