What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
smarting
Example
The cut on my finger is still smarting. [smarting: verb]
Example
She felt a smarting sensation in her eyes after swimming in the pool. [smarting: noun]
stinging
Example
The bee sting left a stinging sensation on my arm. [stinging: adjective]
Example
He winced at the stinging pain in his eyes from the chlorine in the pool. [stinging: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stinging is more commonly used than smarting in everyday language. Stinging is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while smarting is less common and often used in medical or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between smarting and stinging?
Both smarting and stinging are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
