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
Aamir Bhiyani’s trumpet enters only halfway through, occupying a higher frequency range to cut through the dense percussive spiral.
—
Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Playing percussive pizzicato as often as the traditional bow, Reid gives her long, rhythmic compositions plenty of spin, pop, and sizzle, focusing on syncopated action over textural brooding.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
The percussive score by Joseph Shirley and Moses Sumney underlines this, and gives the whole film an eerie, curious atmosphere, lending to a sense of nightmarish unreality.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
Walking into the Broadhust Theatre, the first sound that hits you is the percussive clacking of the hand fans.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussive
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Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Playing percussive pizzicato as often as the traditional bow, Reid gives her long, rhythmic compositions plenty of spin, pop, and sizzle, focusing on syncopated action over textural brooding.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
The percussive score by Joseph Shirley and Moses Sumney underlines this, and gives the whole film an eerie, curious atmosphere, lending to a sense of nightmarish unreality.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
Walking into the Broadhust Theatre, the first sound that hits you is the percussive clacking of the hand fans.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussive
Cite this Entry
“Percussive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussive. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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