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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Sting Definition, Examples & Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：insect sting pain (sting)

sting 🔊

/stɪŋ/

v., n.

A sharp, sudden pain you feel when an insect like a bee or a mosquito bites you.

Close-up of a bee sting on a hand causing pain

insect sting pain 🔊

➕

/ˈɪnsɛkt stɪŋ peɪn/

v., n.

The typically sharp, sudden pain or injury caused by the bite or puncture of an insect (like a bee, wasp, or mosquito) that injects venom.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'stingan', Proto-Germanic *stinganą; related to 'sting' sensation.

💡 Mnemonic

A bee's 'sting' is a sharp point that 'stings' – same word for both noun and verb.

📖 Example

Ouch! A bee just stung me on my hand while I was picking flowers in the garden. 🔊 Ouch! A bee just stung me on my hand while I was picking flowers in the garden.

🔗 Collocations

bee sting – the wound or pain caused by a bee

wasp sting – the wound or pain caused by a wasp

sting from an insect – the painful effect of an insect's sting

🔄 Synonyms

bite (n.) – an act of biting or a wound made by biting

prick (n.) – a small sharp point or a puncture made by a sharp object

puncture (n.) – a small hole or wound made by a sharp object

🚫 Antonyms

soothe (v.) – to relieve or calm pain or distress

heal (v.) – to become healthy again, especially after an injury

🌱 Derivatives

stinger (n.) – a sharp organ of an insect or animal that delivers a sting

stinging (adj.) – causing a sharp pain or sensation like a sting

stung (v.) – past tense and past participle of sting

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old English 'stingan' (to prick), used for physical pricks since the 10th century. Its metaphorical sense for emotional pain appeared in the 1500s, popularized by literature.

Meaning 2：cause emotional hurt (sting)

sting 🔊

/stɪŋ/

v., n.

To make someone feel upset, hurt, or embarrassed, usually with unkind words or actions.

Person feeling emotional hurt from harsh words

cause emotional hurt 🔊

➕

/kɔːz ɪˈmoʊʃənl hɜːrt/

v., n.

To cause someone to feel a sudden sharp emotional pain, typically as a result of an insult, criticism, or unkind remark.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

His comment about my failed project really stung, and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day. 🔊 His comment about my failed project really stung, and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day.

🔗 Collocations

stinging criticism – harsh and painful criticism

sting with sarcasm – to hurt someone using sarcastic words

sting someone's pride – to wound someone's self-respect

🔄 Synonyms

hurt (v.) – to cause emotional pain or distress

offend (v.) – to cause someone to feel upset or annoyed

wound (v.) – to injure someone's feelings or reputation

🚫 Antonyms

comfort (v.) – to soothe or console someone in distress

praise (v.) – to express warm approval or admiration

flatter (v.) – to praise someone excessively, often insincerely

🌱 Derivatives

stinging (adj.) – causing a sharp emotional pain; painful to the feelings

stung (v.) – past tense and past participle of sting (in the emotional sense)

stinger (n.) – a remark or comment that causes sharp hurt