sting | Definition of sting

sting

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of sting

1 an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

the pawn shop operation turned out to be a sting by undercover police officers to catch the ring of burglars

Synonyms of sting

bunco (or bunko), con, fiddle [chiefly British], flimflam, fraud, gyp, hustle, scam, shell game, swindle

Words Related to sting

Ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme

racket, rip-off

thimblerig, three-card monte

device, dodge, gimmick, jig, ploy, scheme, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile

gouging, overcharging, soaking

counterfeit, fake, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony (also phoney), sham

2 a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body

the sting of cold air against my face

Synonyms of sting

ache, pain, pang, prick, shoot, smart, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

Words Related to sting

discomfort, distress, soreness, tenderness

affliction, agony, anguish, misery, sufferance, suffering, torment, torture

inflammation, sore, swelling

damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury

backache, bellyache, charley horse, colic, complaint, earache, gripe, headache, stomachache, toothache

Near Antonyms of sting

comfort, ease, easiness