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Definition of punily

punily

/ˈpjuːnɪli/
pu · ni · ly
Adjective:puny
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punily Lexical Profile

punily Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a small, weak, or feeble manner; with a lack of strength, size, or effectiveness.

Example

"The malnourished sapling grew punily in the shaded corner of the courtyard."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for punily

• Nearby Words

pungent
pungently
punica
punily
puniness
punish
punishable

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 17th century from the adjective 'puny' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The base word 'puny' comes from the Old French 'puisne' (from 'puis' meaning 'afterward' and 'né' meaning 'born'), originally referring to a younger or inferior sibling before shifting to mean small and weak.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Punily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/punily
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