Meaning & use
Smarting
Last updated
Feeling a sharp, stinging pain, or feeling upset, resentful, or embarrassed as a result of criticism, failure, or insult.
See it in a sentence
Her eyes were smarting from the smoke in the room.
He was still smarting from the harsh review of his book.
A note on using this word
"Smart" as an adjective meaning clever developed from the same root as "smarting," which originally meant sharp or biting pain; a "smart" remark still carries that bite.
Words with a similar meaning
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