punchy

adjective

ˈpən-chē How to pronounce punchy (audio)
punchier; punchiest
Synonyms of punchynext
1
a
: having punch : forceful, spirited
The collection is strong on punchy, memorable music and weak on lyrics.— People Weekly
He leans abruptly forward and speaks with the punchy emphasis of an inveterate politician.— Bill Bryson
b
: vivid, vibrant
These punchy colors glide on and blend easily into mere hints of color.— Elle
c
: zesty
It is an elegant dish, although the sauce seems overly polite now. I remember it when the fresh coriander was an intense and punchy flavor.— Caroline Bates
2
: dazed, punch-drunk
… I arrived in Paris after a thirteen-hour flight, unwashed, unshaved, punchy from jet lag, discombobulated …— David Berlinski

Synonyms

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Examples of punchy in a Sentence

shrimp in a punchy sauce She was punchy with fatigue.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here in Los Angeles, as in much of coastal California where the roads and highways are broken and brutalized due to overpopulation, a plush airbag suspension paired with this punchy hybrid powertrain would serve well, very well indeed. — Mark Ewing, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 There are a punchy combination of pinks, like fuchsia paired with powder pink and dark lilac, bright blues teamed with pale grey, and a rainbow at Miu Miu with bright green, blue, pink, and sunny yellow. — Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025 The creative team quickly realized horror audiences wanted something punchier. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 Led by singer-guitarist Matthew Cartlidge and his bass-playing sister Issey Cartlidge, both in their teens, plus drummer Noah Riley, the group made their U.S. debut at SXSW, tearing through punchy originals that would have been right at home on BBC Radio 1 in the Nineties. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for punchy

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of punchy was in 1907

Rhymes for punchy

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Punchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punchy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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