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

Earbud Deals The JBL Vibe Beam earbuds offer punchy bass while delivering high-quality audio. —PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025

Color is back in a big way — bold shades lit up the runways at Loewe, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga and Tom Ford, whose suits stood out for their punchy vibrancy. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025

After an initial take, Downs asked for a punchier delivery. —Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

There was plenty of experimentation, too, seen via the shimmering tops in punchy shades like Big Bird yellow and flaming vermilion red, and the tinsel skirts that swished in all directions as models walked to a custom soundtrack by the British artist Steve McQueen. —Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for punchy

• crunchy