Antonyms for "taking the sting out" could include "making worse," "exacerbating," or "aggravating." Instead of lessening the severity of a situation, these antonyms would intensify the negative aspects. Other antonyms could include "ignoring," "overlooking," or "brushing aside," as these actions would show a lack of concern for the issue at hand. Additionally, "magnifying" or "emphasizing" could be considered antonyms as they would draw attention to the negative rather than attempting to reduce it. In contrast, synonyms for "taking the sting out" might include "reducing," "alleviating," or "soothing.