percussive

adjective

per·​cus·​sive pər-ˈkə-siv 

1

: of or relating to percussion

especially : operative or operated by striking

2

: having powerful impact

percussively adverb

percussiveness noun

Examples of percussive in a Sentence

The song had a punchy, percussive rhythm.

Recent Examples on the Web

After demonstrating a song on his clapsticks, a traditional Aboriginal percussive instrument, King showed me how to crack a eucalyptus leaf in my hands. — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

The track leans on sub-bass, and the buds deliver a satisfying amount of low-end while keeping the percussive elements crisp and the lead synths sitting forward in the mix. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026

Cox plays a Juno synth bass on the song while his son, George, plays percussive bass. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1