STINGING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stinging mean? 

• STINGING (noun)
  The noun STINGING has 1 sense:

1. a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung

  Familiarity information: STINGING used as a noun is very rare.

• STINGING (adjective)
  The adjective STINGING has 1 sense:

1. (of speech) harsh or hurtful in tone or character

  Familiarity information: STINGING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STINGING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

sting; stinging

Context example:

he felt the stinging of nettles

Hypernyms ("stinging" is a kind of...):

hurting; pain (a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder)

Derivation:

sting (cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging)

sting (cause a stinging pain)

• STINGING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of speech) harsh or hurtful in tone or character

Synonyms:

cutting; edged; stinging

Context example:

a stinging comment

Similar:

unkind (lacking kindness)

 Context examples 

A sensation of stinging or heat, not necessarily accompanied by redness or physical signs of irritation.

(Burning Sensation, NCI Thesaurus)

Aluminum lactate is used to treat inflammation, itching, and stinging of the infected skin and promotes healing.

(Aluminum Lactate, NCI Thesaurus)

My feet were stinging from the bite of the frost, and I hoped fervently that the sun would shine.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Aluminum acetate is used to treat inflammation, itching, and stinging of the infected skin and promotes healing.

(Aluminum Acetate, NCI Thesaurus)

We humans are useful collaborators to honeyguides because of our ability to subdue stinging bees with smoke and chop open their nest, providing wax for the honeyguide and honey for ourselves.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

For behind any wish of theirs was power to enforce that wish, power that hurt, power that expressed itself in clouts and clubs, in flying stones and stinging lashes of whips.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The half-breed tried to drive him away with the whip; but he paid no heed to the stinging lash, and the man had not the heart to strike harder.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The polyp, a cnidarian as are jellyfish, provides stinging protection and secretes a calcium shell, and the algae performs photosynthesis, produces oxygen and gives the coral its color.

(Voracious fish defend coral reefs against warming, Wikinews)

It may also relieve neuropathic pain, the burning, stabbing, or stinging pain that may arise from damage to nerves caused by some types of cancer or cancer treatment.

(Flecainide, NCI Dictionary)

Therefore, ingredients in indole-3-carbinol/calcium/Schizandra/vitamin D3/milk thistle/stinging nettle/lignan-based nutritional capsule may alter estrogen balance and may protect against mammary carcinogenesis.

(Indole-3-Carbinol/Calcium/Schizandra/Vitamin D3/Milk Thistle/Stinging Nettle/Lignan-Based Nutritional Capsule, NCI Thesaurus)