papercuts
Sharp page injuries
Papercuts are small cuts on the skin caused by the edge of a sheet of paper.
Despite being minor injuries, they're notorious for stinging disproportionately to their size.
The term extends to minor but accumulating irritations: Death by a thousand papercuts—a situation where small problems compound into serious damage.
Sharp wound from insect
- smartingExperiencing sharp pain
- burningCombustion in progress
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
wince · throbbing · soreness · tenderness · irritation · discomfort · sensitive · disproportionate
Shallow surface cut
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- slicePortion cut off
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- woundCoiled, or an injury
laceration · bandage · antiseptic · ointment · plaster · gauze · healing · scab
Boundary or sharpness
- sheetFlat rectangular material
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- cardstockRigid paper material
- manila folderPaper sleeve for documents
magazine · newsprint · page · ream · stationery · filing · printer · office
State of being bothered
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
petty · trivial · niggling · persistent · recurring · workplace · bureaucracy · inconvenience
Not anticipated beforehand
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- startleFrighten suddenly
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- invisibleCannot be seen
catch off guard · unnoticed · discovering · realization · delayed · sneaky · ambush
sting
Sharp wound from insect
sharp · wince · throbbing · soreness · tenderness · irritation · discomfort · sensitive · disproportionate · intense
nick
Shallow surface cut
wound · laceration · bandage · antiseptic · ointment · plaster · gauze · healing · scab · bleeding
edge
Boundary or sharpness
manila folder · magazine · newsprint · page · ream · stationery · filing · printer · office · document
annoyance
State of being bothered
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
cumulative · petty · trivial · niggling · persistent · recurring · workplace · bureaucracy · inconvenience · aggravation
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
catch off guard · invisible · unnoticed · discovering · realization · delayed · sneaky · ambush
- Andersen TalesThe Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, The Wild Swans, The Nightingale
papercutsstab wounds
Cuts from pointed weapons
severed limbs · gunshot wounds · amputations · compound fractures · third-degree burns
papercutscatastrophes
Disastrous events of great magnitude
tragedies · disasters · existential threats · death sentences
papercutsgrievous bodily harm
Serious intentional physical injury
permanent damage · organ damage · internal bleeding · broken bones