death by a thousand papercuts

A form of death by a thousand paper cuts — An ultimate negative outcome, such as the failure of a project, brought about by an excessive number of bureaucratic hurdles.

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Meanings

noun
  1. alternativeAlternative form of death by a thousand paper cuts.
Cite this entry
APA

death by a thousand papercuts. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20by%20a%20thousand%20papercuts

MLA

“death by a thousand papercuts.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20by%20a%20thousand%20papercuts. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “death by a thousand papercuts,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20by%20a%20thousand%20papercuts.

Source: death by a thousand papercuts on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.