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

The collaboration, which features punchy graphics, leather statement carry-alls in exhilarating colors, and even reimagined classic silhouettes with Mowalola’s edge. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 July 2025

Oasis ended a 16-year hiatus on Friday with a punchy, powerful trip through one of Britpop’s greatest songbooks, kicking off a reunion tour in Cardiff, Wales to a crowd ecstatic for the band’s 1990s hits. —CNN Money, 5 July 2025

Try the impossibly umami-rich vegan mushroom larb, dumplings, fun cocktails and anything fried, from whole fish with punchy Thai sides to Hat Yai-style chicken. —Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Whimsical tailoring, punchy colors, and quirky silhouettes, all drawn from vintage fashion and interior references, create the world that is La Veste. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for punchy

• crunchy