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 of punchy

• 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

But on a white plate, those deep purples, bright oranges, and punchy greens immediately stand out. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

PCMag's audio expert Tim Gideon praised their punchy sound and sleek fit in his 2021 review. —PC Magazine, 22 Nov. 2025

Sydney Sweeney will be here to talk about taking on this very punchy role as an actor and producer, alongside producer Kerry Kohansky-Roberts. —Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025

The iPhone Pocket comes in two lengths—one short enough to carry on the wrist and another that can be worn cross-body—as well as a spectrum of colors: three for the long design and eight for the short, that spans punchy brights like mandarin orange and peacock blue to subtler neutrals. —Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for punchy

• crunchy