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
Advertisement Samuel has long been considered one of the top rushing threats among receivers, but this season he’s rushed 32 times for just 92 yards, a puny 2.9 yard average.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Also Read Beyoncé Shares Loving Message to Blue Ivy Ahead of Acting Debut
Plant something simple in the dirt, like acoustic guitar and voice, and see what clambers out and what swarm of biota clings to it, each protist adding its own puny but inexhaustible voice.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 9 Dec. 2024
That opportunity presents itself in puny Dmitri, whose kidnapping proves a perfect lure.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
Its victories and complications remain modest developments, puny by typical TV standards and monumental on the scale of everyday life (a divorce, a storm, a tough conversation, a death).
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puny 
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Also Read Beyoncé Shares Loving Message to Blue Ivy Ahead of Acting Debut
Plant something simple in the dirt, like acoustic guitar and voice, and see what clambers out and what swarm of biota clings to it, each protist adding its own puny but inexhaustible voice.
—Ron Hart, SPIN, 9 Dec. 2024
That opportunity presents itself in puny Dmitri, whose kidnapping proves a perfect lure.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
Its victories and complications remain modest developments, puny by typical TV standards and monumental on the scale of everyday life (a divorce, a storm, a tough conversation, a death).
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puny
Adjective
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Sitting in front of local leaders, Trump again wrongly blamed elements of the fire disaster on a lack of water resources coming from the Delta and environmental protections for the delta smelt, a small fish near extinction that has become a symbol of GOP frustration.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
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Bad decisions — the kind that can be, if not reversed, at least remedied — are an essential part of adolescence: lapses that teach us about our desires, our impulses, our weaknesses, our essential character, and leave us with no greater damage than a throbbing hangover or a small, smudgy tattoo.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Tribute Series Roadster The Shelby Cobra is one of the most revered and storied automotive models in history, a diminutive titan that made an indelible mark in both motorsport and sports-car culture upon its debut.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
22 Jan. 2025
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Scale jumps from diminutive to oversized, often in a single room.—
Michael Boodro,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Given how little Cohen material has been auctioned off, the sale will be also a barometer of how much Cohen’s legend has grown since his death in 2016.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2025
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Foreign assistance has been the target of ire from Republicans in Congress and Trump administration officials, but the funding accounts for very little of the overall US budget, at about 1% of federal budget obligations.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The pup worked for 13 years helping make others smile — including countless patients at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he was named the tiniest therapy dog out of more than 100 enrolled in the hospital’s Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy Program.—
Luke Chinman,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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There was a tiny cell, its walls painted deep red and carved with graffiti, where prisoners who were to be executed were kept.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near puny
Cite this Entry
“Puny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puny. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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