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Definition of puny

puny

/ˈpjuː.ni/
pu · ny
Adverb:punily
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puny Lexical Profile

puny Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Small, weak, and underdeveloped in physical size or strength.

Example

"The rescued kitten was puny at first, but it quickly gained weight with proper care."

2

Meager, trivial, or inadequate in amount, value, or effect.

Example

"Their puny efforts to repair the damaged levee were no match for the rising floodwaters."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for puny

• Nearby Words

punster
punt
punter
puny
pup
pupa
pupal

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Middle French puisné, meaning 'born later' or 'younger' (from Latin postea natus), originally used in English law as 'puisne' to denote a junior judge before shifting in meaning from 'inferior in rank' to 'small and weak.'

Cite this Entry

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