EN

Synonyms for stinging

  • adjective

Most common

bitter biting caustic pungent pricking

All synonyms

Adjective

1. Biting

biting, bitter, sharp, pungent, caustic, cutting, severe, poignant, piquant, acrimonious, keen, edged, mordacious, acrid, trenchant, piercing, sarcastic, incisive, penetrating, mordant, distressing, tart

Other

pricking, smart

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Having the capacity to sting.

Related words

Phrases
stinging nettle

Choose the right word

Stinging, Sour, Sharp, Bitter, Caustic or Cutting?

We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • bitter The wronged parties couldn't help but feel bitter.
  • biting You don't have to play outside in the biting wind.
  • caustic Our English teacher likes to make caustic comments.
  • pungent Pungent fumes arose from the chemical mixture.
  • pricking By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
stingingrising
bittersteady
bitingrising
causticfalling
pungentrising
prickingrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
keen1, tart1
5 letters
smart1, sharp1, edged1, acrid2
6 letters
severe2, bitter2, biting2
7 letters
cutting2, caustic2, pungent2, piquant2, mordant2
8 letters
piercing2, poignant2, incisive3, pricking
9 letters
sarcastic3, trenchant2
10 letters
mordacious
11 letters
penetrating4, distressing3, acrimonious5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (acrid2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
cuisant