runted
Smallest of litter
Runted describes something that has become or been made stunted, undersized, or underdeveloped, like the runt of a litter.
The term applies to animals, plants, or occasionally people who have failed to reach normal size or development.
The runted piglet struggled to compete with its larger siblings for milk.
It carries connotations of weakness or inadequacy compared to others of the same kind.
Weak and ineffective
- frailWeak and breakable
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- sicklyProne to poor health
scrawny · spindly · weedy · wasted · debilitated · infirm · enfeebled · weakened
Made to appear smaller
- undersizedSmaller than standard
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- punySmall and weak
- smallLimited in size
tiny · miniature · petite · compact · stubby · squat · shrunken · atrophied
Young swine
- whelpYoung dog or wolf
- pupYoung canine or seal
- kittenJuvenile domestic feline
- smallestLeast in dimension
weakest · littermate · reject · neglected · outcast · overlooked · disadvantaged · struggling
Lacking proper nutrition
- underfedLacking adequate food
- immatureNot fully developed
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- deficientHaving too little
inadequate · unfinished · rudimentary · embryonic · nascent · fledgling · premature · unripe
feeble
Weak and ineffective
sickly · scrawny · spindly · weedy · wasted · debilitated · infirm · enfeebled · weakened · faint
dwarfed
Made to appear smaller
- undersizedSmaller than standard
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- punySmall and weak
small · tiny · miniature · petite · compact · stubby · squat · shrunken · atrophied · undeveloped
piglet
Young swine
smallest · weakest · littermate · reject · neglected · outcast · overlooked · disadvantaged · struggling · survivor
malnourished
Lacking proper nutrition
- underfedLacking adequate food
- immatureNot fully developed
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
deficient · inadequate · unfinished · rudimentary · embryonic · nascent · fledgling · premature · unripe · undeveloped