pinprick

1 of 2

noun

pin·​prick ˈpin-ˌprik 

1

: a small puncture made by or as if by a pin

2

: a petty irritation or annoyance

pinprick

2 of 2

verb

pinpricked; pinpricking; pinpricks

transitive verb

: to administer pinpricks to

intransitive verb

: to administer pinpricks

Synonyms

Noun

• perforation
• pinhole
• prick
• punch
• puncture
• stab

Examples of pinprick in a Sentence

Noun

He felt a pinprick in his leg.

the nurse kindly put a decorated bandage over the pinprick from the injection

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But almost everybody else is much more niche, part of a kaleidoscope of tiny lights that’s regularly spun around by the personalized algorithms of social media, so the small lights often show up as the pinpricks of a single viral scene or post or clip. —Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024

Beginning to familiarize yourself with the night sky can feel daunting—with so many pinpricks of light above, parsing the constellations or identifying individual stars can be a lofty task. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

Verb

At this height, the real thing looks fake, a composite of toy skyscrapers, tinfoil rivers, pinprick traffic lights, Central Park the size of a welcome mat, and some sort of nature in the hazy distance. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2021

The teeny pinpricks force the skin to heal and build up stronger than before, while the device also deposits serum deeper into the skin. —Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 9 Nov. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

pinprick

noun

pin·​prick

ˈpin-ˌprik

: a small puncture made by or as if by a pin

also : a small but unpleasant sensation

the steady pinprick of a guilty conscience