punchy

adjective

ˈpən-chē 

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

Synonyms

• dazed
• confused
• bewildered
• distracted
• dizzy
• stunned

Examples of punchy in a Sentence

shrimp in a punchy sauce

She was punchy with fatigue.

Recent Examples on the Web

And the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds deliver punchy sound with surprisingly strong ANC, plus LDAC streaming, now sitting pretty at 30% off. —Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025

Our panel said the leading characteristic of this fish is its robust, punchy flavor and emphasized the anchovies should have a balance of salt and umami. —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025

Take note from the fall 2025 trends and incorporate a burst of red by way of a punchy, lipstick-red ballerina. —Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025

Everything abstract or difficult was carved into quick summaries, punchy headlines, 30-second reels. —Big Think, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for punchy

• crunchy