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 The bohemian-style patio is reminiscent of beach clubs in Tulum, serving punchy mezcal and tequila-based libations until 1 a.m. all summer long. Lily O'Neill, The Denver Post, 22 May 2024 Now, with per-pixel control, the Surface Pro 10 can make movies and photos appear much more punchy and vivid. Chris Welch, The Verge, 20 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for punchy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of punchy was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near punchy

Cite this Entry

“Punchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punchy. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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