puny
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pu·ny
(pyo͞o′nē)adj. pu·ni·er, pu·ni·est
1. Of inferior size, strength, or significance; weak: a puny physique; puny excuses.
2. Chiefly Southern US Sickly; ill.
[Variant of puisne.]
pu′ni·ly adv.
pu′ni·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
puny
(ˈpjuːnɪ)adj, -nier or -niest
1. having a small physique or weakly constitution
2. paltry; insignificant
[C16: from Old French puisne puisne]
ˈpunily adv
ˈpuniness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pu•ny
(ˈpyu ni)adj. -ni•er, -ni•est.
1. of less than normal size and strength; weak.
2. unimportant; insignificant: a puny excuse.
[1540–50; orig. sp. variant of puisne]
pu′ni•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Adj. | 1. | puny - inferior in strength or significance; "a puny physique"; "puny excuses" weak - wanting in physical strength; "a weak pillar" |
2. | puny - (used especially of persons) of inferior size |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
puny
adjective
1. feeble, weak, frail, little, tiny, weakly, stunted, diminutive, sickly, undeveloped, pint-sized (informal), undersized, underfed, dwarfish, pygmy or pigmy Our Kevin has always been a puny lad.
feeble strong, powerful, healthy, robust, hefty (informal), sturdy, burly, husky (informal), well-developed, well-built, brawny
feeble strong, powerful, healthy, robust, hefty (informal), sturdy, burly, husky (informal), well-developed, well-built, brawny
2. insignificant, minor, petty, inferior, trivial, worthless, trifling, paltry, inconsequential, piddling (informal) the puny resources at our disposal
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
puny
adjective1. Not physically strong:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
ضَعيف البُنْيَه، هَزيل
drobnýneduživý
lillesvag
veiklulegur
menkutis
sīksvārgulīgs
çelimsizmecalsiz
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
puny
[ˈpjuːni] adj (physically) [person, arms] → chétif/ive
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
puny
adj (+er) (= weak) person → schwächlich, mick(e)rig (pej); effort → kläglich; resources → kläglich, winzig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
puny
[ˈpjuːnɪ] adj (-ier (comp) (-iest (superl))) (person) → gracile, striminzito/a; (effort) → penoso/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
puny
(ˈpjuːni) adjective small and weak. a puny child.
ˈpunily adverbˈpuniness noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.