pinpricking

Example:The needle's pricking caused her to wince slightly, but she bravely endured it.

Definition:the act of piercing or puncturing with a sharp object, often causing a small amount of pain or discomfort, like a prick from a needle or pin.

Example:The editor's needling comments helped the author improve her article significantly.

Definition:the process of applying small punctures, often used metaphorically to describe a type of verbal incisiveness or criticism.