punchy

What it means

1. informalHaving a punch; effective; forceful; spirited; vigorous.

   Some of the punchiest passages in "The Lady and the Panda" are quotations from Harkness's own writing.

   2005 August 15, Pamela Paul, “The Lady and the Panda”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 25 Jan 2023

   4 more examples

   Best cuts: "The Evil Dude," "Kung Fu, Too!" "Mama Love," "New Orleans" (with a punchy vocal by Teresa Brewer).

   1975, Billboard, volume 87, number 24, page 50

   Malcolm’s tighter, punchier rhythm tone is consistent with the use of any of these big 100-watters (a Marshall Super Bass would be particularly bold in this department), and this was clearly another key ingredient—partnered with his Filter’Tron-loaded Gretsch—in the unparalleled chunk of the AC/DC rhythm assault.

   2010, Phil Sutcliffe, AC/DC: High-Voltage Rock ’n’ Roll: The Ultimate Illustrated History, Voyageur Press, published 2011, →ISBN, page 23, column 1

   It’s a really great experience: Keys feel punchy with a not too loud clicking and clacking, along with a nice feel when actually pushing the key.

   2020 March 20, Jacob Krol, “Apple’s MacBook Air makes a good first impression with strong performance and punchy keys”, in CNN

   The show had a considerable footprint on YouTube, but Piker helped it adapt to punchier formats that were better suited to Facebook and Instagram.

   2025 March 17, Andrew Marantz, “The Battle for the Bros”, in The New Yorker, →ISSN, archived from the original on 18 Mar 2025

2. UKinformalambitiously high, aggressive.

   [T]o stand the best chance of being punchy on price, you must show you’re a serious buyer. So be prepared. As well as getting a mortgage in principle, have a screenshot of your deposit and stamp duty savings to flash at estate agents to prove you’re “proceedable”.

   2026 August 8, Claer Barrett, “Kids, flats and student loans: Why UK first-time buyers are getting older”, in Financial Times

3. informalInvolving or resembling a punch with the fist.

   Francine leans down and her body tenses, shoulders reddening as she makes a sharp, punchy gesture. It doesn't look like a couple in love.

   2021, Chandler Baker, The Husbands

   1 more example

   Apart from the problemette with the punchy bits, I've got only one reservation with the game and that's that the tie-in element is a bit shaky to say the least.

   1992, Jonny Quest (video game review) in Your Sinclair (issue 75, page 16)

In a sentence

Best cuts: "The Evil Dude," "Kung Fu, Too!" "Mama Love," "New Orleans" (with a punchy vocal by Teresa Brewer).

1975, Billboard, volume 87, number 24, page 50

Where it comes from

From punch + -y.