Puny

Quick meaning: Puny is an adjective meaning Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.

Meaning

Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.

More Meanings

1. A younger person; a junior.
2. A new student at a school, university, the Inns of Court, etc.; a junior.
3. Alternative spelling of puisne.
4. (chiefly Southern US, south Midland US) (Frequently) ill; poorly, sickly.
5. (obsolete) Alternative spelling of puisne.
6. (archaic) An inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.

Example Sentences

You puny earthlings are no match for Ming the Merciless!

[W]e dart / O'er wave or field: yet breezes laugh to scorn // Our puny speed, […]

And twentie of theſe punie lies Ile tell, / That men ſhall ſweare I haue diſcontinued ſchoole / About a twelue moneth: […]

[T]hou chuff, thou puny, thou got in the peasestraw thou losel, thou chitterling, thou spawn of a rebel, thou dykedropt, […]

Word Forms

• punier
• puniest
• punies

Synonyms for puny

Depending on context, synonyms include angular, anorexic, carrion, emaciated, gangling, gangly.

Antonyms for puny

Common opposites include superior, baron, big name, bigwig, boss, heavyweight.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include small, weak, little, runty, shrimpy, trifling.

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