pinprick

1 of 2

noun

pin·prick ˈpin-ˌprik

Synonyms of pinprick

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

: 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 of pinprick

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

For this new way to monitor blood sugar without the pinpricks, Kang and colleagues are building on research stretching back over 15 years. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025 Infected people may also develop a pinprick red or purple rash that doesn’t disappear under pressure. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2026

Verb

Distorting drops of water pinpricked my face in the basin’s mirror. — Dan Chiasson, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2017 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 See All Example Sentences for pinprick

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of pinprick was in 1755

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

pin pool

pinprick

pin punch

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pinprick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinprick. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

pinprick

noun

verb

Synonyms of pinprick

Examples of pinprick in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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