as in small
of a size that is less than average
a puny, wrinkled apple
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of puny
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
Last season, the Chargers gave up a puny average of 17.7 points per game, best in the NFL.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
Though puny when compared to global meat sales, the multibillion-dollar market for meat substitutes is growing briskly and has attracted interest from technologists, researchers, and venture capitalists.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2018
See All Example Sentences for puny
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
Last season, the Chargers gave up a puny average of 17.7 points per game, best in the NFL.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
Though puny when compared to global meat sales, the multibillion-dollar market for meat substitutes is growing briskly and has attracted interest from technologists, researchers, and venture capitalists.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2018
See All Example Sentences for puny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puny
Adjective
-
Palantir’s revenue figures are still quite small compared to peers of similar market capitalization.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Contractors working on the project recently completed pouring the foundation for what will provide smaller housing units meant to make quarantining detainees with communicable illnesses safer and easier.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Tyrannosaurus rex did, in fact, have a diminutive relative in North America.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
-
That means the diminutive van measures in at a hair under 340 cm (134 in) long, roughly 59 cm (23 in) shorter than the original 2023 Toyota Kayoibako.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Wet and dry fronts, prevailing winds, moisture and vapour, meeting, as luck would have it, exactly at the top of that big mountain on the little island.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But the shutdown has turned most parks into ghost towns, with little to no staffing or access to amenities and facilities.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
From breezing through paperwork to avoiding unnecessary airport delays, this tiny travel hero proves that sometimes the simplest tools are the most important.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
-
But the movie only gives tiny little tastes of 1982 rock culture, and why Nebraska was so comically unsuitable for airplay.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Large clutches, like those at Bottega Veneta and Chanel, and comfortable shoulder bags like the Miu Miu multi-pocket bag, also featured.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Puny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puny. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share