puny

[ˈpjuːni]

puny Definition

  • 1small and weak
  • 2lacking in strength or size
  • 3insignificant

Using puny: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "puny" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The boxer looked puny compared to his opponent.

  • Example

    The plant was puny due to lack of sunlight.

  • Example

    His argument was puny and unconvincing.

  • Example

    The company's profits were puny compared to last year.

puny Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for puny

Phrases with puny

  • a phrase used to describe a character who is weak and powerless, often used in a humorous or mocking way

    Example

    In the movie The Avengers, the Hulk calls Loki a 'puny god' after easily defeating him.

  • a weapon that is small and weak, often used in a humorous or ironic way

    Example

    The superhero defeated the villain with a puny weapon, a toothpick.

  • a term used in computer programming to describe code that is inefficient or poorly written

    Example

    The software crashed because of puny code written by the programmer.

Origins of puny

from Middle English 'puine', meaning 'weak'

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Summary: puny in Brief

The term 'puny' [ˈpjuːni] describes something that is small, weak, or insignificant. It can be used to describe physical objects, like a puny plant, or abstract concepts, like a puny argument. The phrase 'puny god' is often used humorously to describe a weak or powerless character.

How do native speakers use this expression?