stekende

Stekende is the present participle and attributive adjective form of the Dutch verb steken, meaning to stab, sting, or insert. As an adjective, stekende denotes a quality of piercing or sharpness and can describe both physical sensations and objects that imply piercing or stabbing.

Grammatically, stekende is used mainly in front of a noun to form attributive phrases, such as een stekende pijn (a stabbing pain) or de stekende blik (the piercing gaze). The form adapts as an ordinary Dutch attributive adjective: singular phrases commonly use stekende, and plural forms such as stekende pijnen are also possible, depending on definiteness and noun gender.

Usage examples include medical or descriptive contexts, where stekende refers to a sharp, aching sensation, and figurative contexts, where it conveys a sharp or biting quality in behavior or remarks (for example, stekende kritiek or stekende opmerkingen). While less frequent in everyday speech, the word is well established in literary and descriptive Dutch.

Etymology and related forms: stekende derives from the verb steken, which means to stab, pierce, or insert. The root is shared with related Germanic words such as German stechen and English sting/stake, reflecting a common historical lineage in the meaning of piercing or thrusting actions.

See also: steken, steek (noun), stekende pijn, stekende blik, Dutch adjective formation.