punchier; punchiest
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

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.
His call is punchy and controlled, and his love for the game bleeds through the screen. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 May 2025 Something Beautiful, Lorde bares her truth in a cathartic song from her forthcoming Virgin, and Haim step back into the past with a punchy retro-rocker. Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025 The Adreno 740, meanwhile, is used in the punchy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 The audio is surprising for this price, with clear highs and punchy bass that doesn’t distort. Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 27 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Punchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punchy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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