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Synonyms

take the sting out of

Idioms  

  1. Lessen the severity or unpleasantness of something, as in That senior citizen discount took the sting out of the airfares. [Mid-1800s]

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.

The exiles thought they finally would be allowed to return home, or at least get enough cash to take the sting out of their displacement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Some extra incentive to file your taxes: That refund money could take the sting out of your next trip to the gas station.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Investors will hope that an uptick in Singapore will take the sting out of the weakness in Macau.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Munyua brought the fans to their feet with three 180s in the opening set, but Doets was able to take the sting out of the occasion by moving ahead.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

“Little bunny knows everything about everything,” Ayanna said with a roll of her eyes, but she smiled at Chestnutt to take the sting out of her words.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.