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   sting

   /stɪŋ/

   noun

   • 1. a small sharp-pointed organ at the end of the abdomen of bees, wasps, ants, and scorpions, capable of inflicting a painful or dangerous wound by injecting poison.
   • ▪ any of a number of minute hairs or other organs of plants, jellyfishes, etc., which inject a poisonous or irritating fluid when touched: "a nettle-like plant with no sting"
   • ▪ a wound from a sting: "a wasp or bee sting" Similar prickwoundinjurybitenippuncture
   • ▪ a sharp tingling or burning pain or sensation: "she felt the sharp sting of tears behind her eyelids" Similar smartingsmartstingingtinglingtingleprickingpainsorenesshurtirritation
   • ▪ a hurtful quality or effect: "I recalled the sting of his betrayal" Similar heartacheheartbreakagonytorturetormenthurtpainanguishdistressdesolationmiserysharpnessseveritybiteedgepointednessasperitypungencymordancyacerbityaciditytartnesssarcasmacrimonymalicespitevenomrare:causticitymordacity
   • 2. a carefully planned operation, typically one involving deception: informal "five blackmailers were jailed last week after they were snared in a police sting" Similar swindlefraudpiece of deceptiontrickerycheatbit of sharp practiceinformal:rip-offconcon trickdiddlefiddlebunco

   verb

   • 1. wound or pierce with a sting: "he was stung by a jellyfish" Similar prickwoundinjurehurtbitenippenetratepoisonrare:urticate
   • ▪ feel or cause to feel a sharp tingling or burning pain or sensation: "her eyes stung as if she might cry again" Similar smarttingleburnbe painfulhurtbe irritatedbe soreache
   • ▪ (typically of something said) hurt or upset (someone): "stung by her mockery, Frank hung his head" Similar upsetwounddistressmake miserablecut to the quickseargrievehurtpaintormentmortify
   • ▪ provoke someone to do (something) by causing annoyance or offence: "he was stung into action by an article in the paper" Similar provokegoadincitespurprickprodrousestir updrivemovemotivategalvanizestimulateOpposite deter
   • 2. swindle or exorbitantly overcharge (someone): informal "I had to buy some boxer shorts at the last minute and got stung for £42.50!" Similar swindledefraudcheatfleecegullinformal:rip offscrewdorookdiddletake for a rideskinclipchiselgougebuncoinformal, dated:rush

   Word Origin Old Englishsting (noun), stingan (verb), of Germanic origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. stingless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

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