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
1
Small, weak, or unimpressive; lacking strength or significance.
"His puny arms could barely lift the box."
"The company's puny profits worried investors."
"You puny earthlings are no match for Ming the Merciless!"
How to use puny
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- punies
- Comparative
- punier
- Superlative
- puniest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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."
Related words
Rhymes for puny
See all rhymes for puny →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.".
