puny

puny — adjective

1. so small and lacking in physical strength that a person or thing seems unable to

1.形容詞B2
釋義

so small and lacking in physical strength that a person or thing seems unable to have much effect or do much

例句

The stray cat was so puny that Gita could feel every rib through its fur.

so + adj + that clause for result

Hyun's puny arms struggled to lift the heavy box onto the top shelf.

collocation: puny + body part

同義詞
  • feeble

    emphasises lack of strength more than size

  • frail

    suggests delicacy and a tendency to break or get hurt

  • undersized

    focuses on being smaller than normal, without the negative connotation of weakness

  • weak

    a more general and common word for lacking strength

反義詞
  • robust

    strong and healthy in a way that puny is not

  • sturdy

    firmly built and unlikely to break or fail

用法筆記

Commonly used in an attributive position before a noun (a puny little thing, her puny arms), but also works predicatively (he looked puny).

常見錯誤

❌The baby rabbit was tiny but healthy.
✅The baby rabbit was puny and barely able to open its eyes.
💡'puny' adds the idea of weakness or feebleness, not just small size.

2. so minor, weak, or unimpressive that it is hardly worth noticing or taking serio

2.形容詞B2
釋義

so minor, weak, or unimpressive that it is hardly worth noticing or taking seriously

例句

Tamás received a puny raise that barely covered the rise in rent.

puny + [amount] to show inadequacy

The boss dismissed Mira's concerns as a puny excuse for missing the deadline.

collocation: puny + excuse

同義詞
  • paltry

    even more dismissive — suggests contemptible smallness

  • meager

    barely enough, often in the context of food or earnings

  • trifling

    so unimportant as to be not worth considering

  • insignificant

    a more neutral, formal word for having little importance

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently appears before nouns that represent amounts, efforts, or results — like raise, attempt, excuse, fine, sum. Carries a dismissive or scornful tone.

常見錯誤

❌The fine was small.
✅The fine was a puny fifty dollars for such a serious offence.
💡'puny' suggests the amount is not just small but ridiculously inadequate.