smarting

/ˈsmɑrtɪŋ/
adjective
  1. Causing or feeling a sharp, stinging pain, especially on the skin.
    • After touching the hot pan, she had a smarting sensation on her fingertips.
    • He applied ointment to the smarting scrape on his knee.
    • The smarting sunburn kept him awake all night.
  2. Feeling emotional pain, such as embarrassment, hurt pride, or disappointment.
    • The team was still smarting from their loss in the championship game.
    • She walked away smarting after her friend's harsh criticism.
    • He was smarting from the rejection of his job application.
Antonyms