adj

puny

PYOO-nee

Puny (adj) means Small, weak, or unimpressive; lacking strength or significance. Example: “His puny arms could barely lift the box.”

adj

Small, weak, or unimpressive; lacking strength or significance.

"His puny arms could barely lift the box."

"The company's puny profits worried investors."

How to use puny

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWeak, small, or not strong enough to matter.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with the legal term "puisne" (a junior judge) — same root, but puny is now used only to mean weak or small.

Common pairings

puny effort puny excuse a puny frame

Word forms

punier comparative, punies plural, puniest superlative

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His _____ arms could barely lift the box.

Etymology

A respelling of the older word puisne ("born later, junior"), from Old French puis ("after") plus né ("born") — literally someone younger or lower in rank, which shifted in meaning to "weak" or "small."

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for puny

Cluny Chuny

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Frequently asked questions

What does “puny” mean?

The word “puny” means small, weak, or unimpressive; lacking strength or significance. In plain terms, weak, small, or not strong enough to matter.

How do you pronounce “puny”?

“Puny” is pronounced PYOO-nee (/ˈpjuni/ in IPA).

How do you use “puny” in a sentence?

Here is “puny” used in a sentence: “His puny arms could barely lift the box.”

What part of speech is “puny”?

“Puny” is an adjective.

Where does the word “puny” come from?

The word “puny” comes from Old French. A respelling of the older word puisne ("born later, junior"), from Old French puis ("after") plus né ("born") — literally someone younger or lower in rank, which shifted in meaning to "weak" or "small.".