The meaning of PUNY is slight or inferior in power, size, or importance : weak. How to use puny in a sentence.

My car only has a puny little engine. The party's share of the vote rose from a puny 13 percent in the last election to 21 percent this time.

PUNY definition: of less than normal size and strength; weak. See examples of puny used in a sentence.

Dec 11, 2025 · puny (plural punies) (archaic) An inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person. [from 16th c.] synonyms, antonym, synonyms, antonym quotations

Definition of puny adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word puny, seven of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

By any historical standard this has been a puny recovery with little or no feel-good factor.

1. of less than normal size and strength; weak. 2. unimportant; insignificant: a puny excuse.

I wouldn't mess with him—he makes bodybuilders look puny in comparison. We laughed at their puny attempt to trick us.

puny meaning, definition, what is puny: a puny person is small, thin, and weak: Learn more.