Took sting out is a phrase used to denote the act of reducing the impact or severity of something. The antonyms for this term can be described as intensifying, adding bite, sharpening, exacerbating, or augmenting. These phrases can be used when we want to enhance the significance of a situation or make it more potent. For example, instead of saying "he took the sting out of the argument," we could say "he exacerbated the situation by adding fuel to the fire." Overall, using antonyms for took sting out allows for a more colorful and dynamic way of expressing the impact of an event.