Synonyms for puny
- adjective
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Weak — of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak
weak, little, small, feeble, tiny, petty, scrawny, insignificant, undersized, diminutive, pint-sized informal, sickly, flimsy, impotent, stunted, effete, dwarf, wee UK NZ IE, wasted, emaciated, slim, undernourished
Other
Noun
1. Inferior — an inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person
inferior, picayune informal US, unworthy, vassal, underling, junior, punk slang US, puisne dated
2. Shadow — A new student at a school, university, the Inns of Court, etc.; a junior
3. Rookie — alternative spelling of puisne. A person who is not experienced; a beginner, a novice
rookie, tenderfoot, newb slang dated, freshman dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.
a puny attempt at an apology
- adj. 2
(Frequently) ill; poorly, sickly.
- n. 1
An inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.
- n. 2
Alternative spelling of puisne. A person who is not experienced; a beginner, a novice.
Related words
- Word family
- puniness
Forms
- Plural
- punies → inferiors, picayunes, unworthies, vassals…
Example sentences
- tiny Her handwriting was so tiny it was barely legible.
- petty Sami started getting into trouble for petty theft.
- feeble The feeble patient is suffering from stomach cancer.
- scrawny Tom doesn't know the difference between thin and scrawny.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| puny | rising | |
| tiny | rising | |
| petty | steady | |
| feeble | steady | |
| scrawny | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- wee1
- 4 letters
- weak1, tiny2, punk1, slim1, novi2, newb
- 5 letters
- small1, petty2, dwarf1, runty
- 6 letters
- little2, junior2, shadow2, wasted2, rookie2, feeble2, flimsy2, sickly2, vassal2, effete2, puisne
- 7 letters
- stunted2, fresher2, scrawny2, shrimpy, midgety
- 8 letters
- freshman2, inferior4, unworthy3, impotent3, picayune3
- 9 letters
- emaciated5, underling3
- 10 letters
- diminutive4, undersized3, tenderfoot
- 13 letters
- insignificant5
- 14 letters
- undernourished4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (tiny2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- chétif
- Deutsch
- schwach
- Català
- escanyolit