The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - sting v.

1) prick, stab, pierce, stick; bite: Bees, wasps, scorpions, etc. sting you, but mosquitoes, spiders, and snakes bite. 2) hurt, wound, pain, injure, distress, nettle, cut to the quick: He was really stung by Maria's callous remarks. 3) See stimulate, 1, above: We were stung into action by the minister's inspiring speech. 4) cheat, overcharge, swindle, fleece, defraud, Slang rob, soak, rip off, take for a ride: You really were stung if you paid that much for such an old piano.