adj

stinging

STIH-ngihng

adj

Capable of causing a sharp pain, or itself sharply painful.

"She felt a stinging sensation after touching the nettle."

Harshly critical and hurtful.

"The critic wrote a stinging review of the new restaurant."

How to Use Stinging

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSharp and painful, physically or in the form of harsh criticism.

Common pairings

stinging criticism stinging pain stinging rebuke

more stinging comparative, stingings plural, most stinging superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She felt a _____ sensation after touching the nettle.

singing ringing winging pinging swinging bringing clinging wringing flinging springing stringing upbringing