puny

[pyoo-nee]

adjective

punier, puniest 

1. of less than normal size and strength; weak.

2. unimportant; insignificant; petty or minor.

   a puny excuse.

3. Obsolete.,  puisne.

puny

/ ˈpjuːnɪ /

adjective

1. having a small physique or weakly constitution

2. paltry; insignificant

Other Word Forms

• punily adverb
• puniness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of puny¹

First recorded in 1540–50; spelling variant of puisne

Word History and Origins

Origin of puny¹

C16: from Old French puisne _puisne

Example Sentences

This is a Paxton classic—a lawsuit big on headline value and outrage, puny on substance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That's a contrast to most stadium concerts, where the message is more like: "Look upon me, puny mortals, and be astonished by my divine talents and somewhat improbable physique."

Read more on BBC

Some senior Labour figures fret privately that their talk of "missions" and a "Plan for Change" might seem puny to many in comparison with the scale of that challenge.

Read more on BBC

“Never did I see a less likely football prospect. Weak and puny.”

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Samuel has long been considered one of the top rushing threats among receivers, but this season he’s rushed 32 times for just 92 yards, a puny 2.9 yard average.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• feeble 
• frail 
• inconsequential 
• measly 
• paltry 
• tiny 
• trivial