smarting

ADJECTIVE

painful

Synonyms

STRONG

aching agonizing biting burning caustic distressing excruciating extreme harrowing hurting inflamed irritated nagging piercing raw saddening sensitive sharp sore stinging tender throbbing tormenting trying

WEAK

achy afflictive arduous awful difficult dire disagreeable distasteful dreadful extremely bad grievous hard hurtful laborious severe tedious terrible troublesome uncomfortable unpleasant vexatious

Antonyms

STRONG

bland calm experienced good healthy kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pleasing soothing unfeeling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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smarting

Americans have been smarting for years over how much more expensive everything from coffee to cars has become.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

The fare will remain the LA-standard $1.75 -- a small victory for fans smarting at the $98 price tag for a round-trip train ticket between New York and MetLife Stadium.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Drake is smarting, and he spreads that hurt across more than an hour in the trilogy’s marquee album “Iceman.”

From Salon ● May 21, 2026

There had been an expectation that England would be smarting after the Calcutta Cup defeat, and would put it right against Ireland.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

Her eyes roved across my face, which was smarting with pain, and then settled on your cut lip, but she didn’t comment.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman

smarting

Example Sentences

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