to prick or wound with a sharp-pointed, often venom-bearing organ.

to affect painfully or irritatingly as a result of contact, as certain plants do

to be stung by nettles.

to cause to smart or to cause a sharp pain

The blowing sand stung his eyes.

to cause mental or moral anguish

to be stung with remorse.

to goad or drive, as by sharp irritation.

Slang . to cheat or take advantage of, esp. to overcharge; soak.

to use, have, or wound with a sting, as bees.

to cause a sharp, smarting pain, as some plants, an acrid liquid or gas, or a slap or hit.

to cause acute mental pain or irritation, as annoying thoughts or one's conscience

The memory of that insult still stings.

to feel acute mental pain or irritation

He was stinging from the blow to his pride.

to feel a smarting pain, as from a blow or the sting of an insect.

an act or an instance of stinging.

a wound, pain, or smart caused by stinging.

any sharp physical or mental wound, hurt, or pain.

anything or an element in anything that wounds, pains, or irritates

to feel the sting of defeat; Death, where is thy sting?

capacity to wound or pain

Satire has a sting.

a sharp stimulus or incitement

driven by the sting of jealousy; the sting of ambition.

Botany . a glandular hair on certain plants, as nettles, that emits an irritating fluid.

Zoology . any of various sharp-pointed, often venom-bearing organs of insects and other animals capable of inflicting painful or dangerous wounds.

Slang .

confidence game.

an ostensibly illegal operation, as the buying of stolen goods or the bribing of public officials, used by undercover investigators to collect evidence of wrongdoing.

verb

bite , burn , electrify , hurt , injure , inspire , needle , pique , poke , prickle , smart , tingle , wound , inflame , bilk , cozen , defraud , gull , mulct , rook , swindle , victimize , impale , itch , nettle , pain , pierce , prick , tang

noun

ache , pang , prick , prickle , smart , soreness , stab , stitch , throe , twinge , bite , incisiveness , keenness , sharpness , punch* , wallop*