Synonyms of puny
120 similar words · 41 opposite words
Another word for puny is wasted. Other synonyms of puny are scrawny, low, mini, little and emaciated.
Synonyms and similar words for puny
adjectiveOf inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.
- angular
- anorexic
- emaciatedThin or haggard, especially from hunger or disease.
- ganglingAwkwardly tall and thin, ungraceful.
- ganglyTall and thin, especially so as to cause physical awkwardness.
- gaunt
- haggard
- stringy
- macilentLean; thin; emaciated.
- lank
- lanky
- leptosomeNarrow-bodied (in proportional to height or length).
- pencil-necked
- rangy
- rawbonedOf a person: bony and thin; having prominent bones; gaunt.
- reedy
- scraggy US
- scrawnyThin, malnourished, and weak.
- skin and bonesA person or an animal that is emaciated or very thin, as from lack of nutrition.
- skinny
- starved
- thin as a rakeIncredibly thin; at an unhealthy-looking level of thinness.
- undernourishedProvided with insufficient nourishment to sustain proper health and growth.
- underweight
- wastedEmaciated and haggard.
- weedySmall and weak.
- compact
- fun size euphemisticSmall in size.
- fun-sized euphemistic
- ickleLittle.
- insignificant
- lit'l
- little
- lowLacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak.
- modest
- miniMiniature, tiny, small.
- petty
- pint-sized colloquialComparatively small in size.
- pocket-size
- slim
- slight
- small
- small-scale
- undersizedBelow the usual or expected size.
- wee Ireland, ScotlandSmall, little.
- wurly ScotlandOf an object: derisorily small, tiny; of a person: puny, stunted.
- carrion obsoleteVery thin; emaciated, skeletonlike.
nounAn inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.
- inferior
- junior
- underling
- vassal
- absolute zero
- also-ran
- chopped liver humorous, informalA person or object not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
- cipherSomeone or something of no importance.
- crumb slangA nobody; a worthless person.
- Joe NobodySomebody of no importance or significance.
- little guy
- minnowA person or thing of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
- nebbishOne who is fearful, indecisive and timid, especially in making decisions and plans, in discussions, debates, arguments...
- nobodyA person dismissed as unimportant.
- no one
- nothing
- nothingburgerAn unimportant person; a nobody, a nonentity.
- nonentity
- picayune US, informalA person regarded as unworthy of respect or useless; also, something of very little value; a trifle.
- pip-squeak US
- pleb
- peon
- prole
- rinky-dink US, informalAn amateur or someone who is underqualified.
- shrimpA small, puny or unimportant person.
- wankstain UKTerm of abuse.
- zero USA person dismissed as unimportant.
- zilch USA nobody: a person who is worthless in importance or character.
- assbucket slang, vulgarA worthless or objectionable person or thing.
- asswipe vulgar
- blatherskiteA worthless fellow; a deadbeat.
- bugger slang
- cockstain slang, vulgarA worthless person.
- doink slangA fool; a jerk; a worthless person.
- dirtbag informal
- douchebag informalAny social misfit: a doofus, dork, nerd, or loser.
- drop kick slang
- fritlagA worthless person.
- fuckbucket humorous, slangA worthless or objectionable person or thing.
- geekAn unfashionable or socially undesirable person.
- good-for-naughtSynonym of good-for-nothing.
- good-for-nothingA person of little worth or usefulness.
- hoon
- loserA contemptible or unfashionable person.
- louse
- maggot slang
- ne'er-do-well
- no-goodA worthless or useless person.
- no-mark slang
- nonce
- nought
- nowmun dialectalA worthless person.
- pelfA contemptible or useless person.
- pig dog
- pile of shit
- pissant
- punk US, slangA worthless person, particularly.
- ramp
- shicer Australia, slang
- shitheap derogatory, slangA worthless place, thing, or person.
- slubberdegullion
- sparrow-fart slang
- streak of piss slang, vulgarA tall, thin person.
- toerag
- twerpA small or puny person; one regarded as insignificant, contemptible.
- waste of space
- underperson
- unworthyAn inadequate person.
- puisne obsoleteA person of puisne rank.
- quidam obsoleteA nobody; a person of no importance.
- badling rare
- custron obsoleteA kitchen-worker, a scullion; any worthless person.
- dandiprat dated
Opposite of puny
nounAn inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.
- superior
- baron
- big cheeseA very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
- big enchilada
- big gun
- big kahunaA boss, leader, chieftain, or top-ranking person in an organization.
- big man
- big name
- big noise
- big shot
- bigwigA person of importance in a group or organization.
- big wheel
- boss
- grand poobah
- head honchoThe person in charge; the highest-ranking person in an organization.
- heavy hitter
- heavyweight
- high muckamuckA person in a position of power, authority, or status.
- high muckety-muckSynonym of high muckamuck.
- king of all one surveysPossessing governing authority over a range of territory; having decisive control or oversight over all major matters...
- king of the castle
- king of the hill
- kingpin
- macher USAn important person, often in the negative sense of self-important; a bigwig.
- mayor
- muckamuck
- muckety muckA high muckamuck; a person (especially self-important) in a position of power, authority, or status.
- mugwumpA (male) leader; an important (male) person.
- numero uno
- panjandrum
- poobah
- rooster
- somebody
- top banana
- top boyA leader, kingpin, or boss in the drug trade or gang hierarchy.
- top catSynonym of top dog.
- top dog
- top gun
- very important personA person who is accorded special privileges due to their status or importance.
- VIP
- wheel
Meaning of puny
- adjective Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.
- adjective (Frequently) ill; poorly, sickly.
- adjective Inferior in rank; specifically, of a judge: junior.
puny in other languages
Questions about synonyms of puny
- What is another word for puny?
- Puny has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as wasted, scrawny, low, mini, little, emaciated, undersized and small.
- What is the opposite of puny?
- The opposite of puny is superior. Other antonyms of puny are baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun and big kahuna.
- What does puny mean?
- Puny means of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: puny (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of puny.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/puny. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.