puny

adjective

pu·​ny ˈpyü-nē How to pronounce puny (audio)
punier; puniest
: slight or inferior in power, size, or importance : weak
punily adverb
puniness noun

Examples of puny in a Sentence

I wouldn't mess with him—he makes bodybuilders look puny in comparison. We laughed at their puny attempt to trick us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His splendid defense never wavered, but Harris was statistically the worst lineup regular in the majors this season through the All-Star break, batting .210 with a puny .551 OPS in 93 games. David O'Brien, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 Why won’t these punier equities go along with the program? John Navin, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025 Per Nielsen, broadcast channels accounted for a puny 4.1 percent of all TV viewing among viewers aged 6-17, while cable (remember that?) wasn’t much better, with a 6.1 percent share. Josef Adalian, Vulture, 31 July 2025 There will be a puny amount spent on commercials and campaign literature relative to the amount of ads and mail produced that promote Kinloch's candidacy. M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for puny

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French puisné younger, weakly, literally, born afterward, from puis afterward + born

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puny was circa 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Puny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puny. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

puny

adjective
pu·​ny ˈpyü-nē How to pronounce puny (audio)
punier; puniest
: slight or lesser in power, size, or importance : weak
puniness noun
Etymology

from early French puisné "younger," literally, "born afterward," from puis "afterward" and "born"

More from Merriam-Webster on puny

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