as in small
of a size that is less than average
a puny, wrinkled apple
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puny
The turbine maxed out at 25 kilowatts—puny compared to modern machines that generate up to 26 megawatts, but more than most energy experts expected from wind technology in November 1976.
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IEEE Spectrum,
15 June 2026
The main benefit of sitting in first class is that you might still be served free cocktails, while a coach passenger is left with a puny bag of carbs, one cup of soda, and complimentary (for now) trash collection.
—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Hurricane Andrew — the lethal 1992 storm that almost always gets invoked as a cautionary tale — struck during a relatively quiet year and though fierce, was puny by comparison.
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Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
But as avid swimmers, we were disappointed with the puny indoor pool, which couldn’t have been more than 10 meters long.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for puny
IEEE Spectrum,
15 June 2026
The main benefit of sitting in first class is that you might still be served free cocktails, while a coach passenger is left with a puny bag of carbs, one cup of soda, and complimentary (for now) trash collection.
—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Hurricane Andrew — the lethal 1992 storm that almost always gets invoked as a cautionary tale — struck during a relatively quiet year and though fierce, was puny by comparison.
—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
But as avid swimmers, we were disappointed with the puny indoor pool, which couldn’t have been more than 10 meters long.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for puny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puny
Adjective
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Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
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People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
Adjective
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And a scene depicting a barroom brawl among little people, interrupted by similarly diminutive cops and paramedics, feels like it could have been devised by Buñuel.
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The diminutive menu contained just three sandwiches, two salads and a single dessert.
Adjective
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Yet at the individual and family level, there was little.
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For example, when the question comes up if a certain weird little alien on a space bus who sounds unmistakably like Seth Rogen is actually Rogen.
Adjective
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Merlin, a 2-year-old duck, has taken the internet by storm, captivating fans with his tiny form-fitting Team Mexico jersey and confident waddle around his home of Mexico City.
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Providing indefinite joy for the price of just one night at a hotel, this Instagram-worthy blow-up shelter is practically a portable tiny home that sets up within a few minutes.
Cite this Entry
“Puny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puny. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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