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 volume of noteworthy art is greater than ever before, and our list, even at a monumental 100 works, with some 15,000 words of copy to accompany them, looks puny in comparison.
—
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Health Care The second-worst sector over the past 12 months was health care, up a puny 4.6%.
—John Dorfman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Right now, geothermal energy meets less than one per cent of humanity’s electricity and heating needs—a puny, almost irrelevant portion.
—Brent Crane, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
Brantley, if healthy, could be a favorite for the other job: Quarterbacks had a puny 16.6 passer rating when targeting Brantley: 14 receptions in 37 targets for 149 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns permitted.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puny
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Health Care The second-worst sector over the past 12 months was health care, up a puny 4.6%.
—John Dorfman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Right now, geothermal energy meets less than one per cent of humanity’s electricity and heating needs—a puny, almost irrelevant portion.
—Brent Crane, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
Brantley, if healthy, could be a favorite for the other job: Quarterbacks had a puny 16.6 passer rating when targeting Brantley: 14 receptions in 37 targets for 149 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns permitted.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puny
Adjective
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Ellie finds a small fishing boat to take her across the water to the aquarium.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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Pay Attention to Heavy Metals Some chocolate contains small amounts of cadmium and lead—and dark chocolate tends to be the bigger offender.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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While cultivated throughout Germany and in limited quantities throughout continental Europe, the diminutive white grape, often compared to grüner veltliner or an unoaked chardonnay, rarely gets much attention.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2025
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That led to a song-and-dance number in which Brunson honored other diminutive celebrities, like the gymnast Simone Biles and the rapper Kendrick Lamar, as well as the pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who joined her in a cameo appearance.—
Dave Itzkoff,
New York Times,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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The musical features a scene about little Sarah making her joke about Jeffrey’s death and no one laughing.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
18 May 2025
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When Carter was little, his mother always included him in her life, as Anderson told PEOPLE in 2016.—
Julie Tremaine,
People.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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In the video above, the user added a tiny fairy bridge over her faux water scene.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2025
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Several other drugs, including amantadine and apomorphine, can have similarly arousing effects, though none has worked in more than a tiny sliver of patients.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Built with water-resistant polyester, this spacious duffel has a dedicated shoe compartment, an end pocket for wet or dirty clothes, a multi-pocket compression panel for organization, and an interior divider curtain that can be removed to hold bulky clothes or outdoor gear.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Jan. 2025
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The Vault by Vans x Nicole McLaughlin Collection includes special-edition versions of the iconic Vans Slip-On VP VR3 LX with adaptations—think canvas pockets and easy-carry heel straps—inspired by a classic multi-pocket garden tote and workwear bucket bag often used on construction job sites.—
Hollyanna McCollom,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Puny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puny. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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