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

But many businesses—some still smarting from being late to the AI boom—are spending big on the technology today.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 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

Earlier, Pep Guardiola's City went into their match against bottom side smarting after an embarrassing 3-1 Champions League defeat at Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026

He is still smarting about the Dodgers’ response, adding “people are still talking about all of that.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2025

I ducked away, my scalp smarting, and scrambled into the oregano bushes.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

smarting

Example Sentences

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