punchy

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From punch +‎ -y.

punchy (comparative punchier, superlative punchiest) (informal)

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

   Hyponym: catchy

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

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

   • 2005 August 15, Pamela Paul, “The Lady and the Panda”, in The New York Times‎^[1], archived from the original on 25 January 2023:

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

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

     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.

   • 2020 March 20, Jacob Krol, “Apple’s MacBook Air makes a good first impression with strong performance and punchy keys”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     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.

   • 2025 March 17, Andrew Marantz, “The Battle for the Bros”, in The New Yorker‎^[3], →ISSN, archived from the original on 18 March 2025:

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

2. Involving or resembling a punch with the fist.
   • 1992, Jonny Quest (video game review) in Your Sinclair (issue 75, page 16)

     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.

   • 2021, Chandler Baker, The Husbands:

     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.

3. Punchable; punchworthy.
   • 1978 October 18, “Ugly gelding sitting pretty for Sunland marathon”, in El Paso Herald-Post, volume CI, number 27, El Paso, Tex., →ISSN, →OCLC, page B-3, column 2:

     Even with his punchy face, Roman nose and big ears, Jack Drawbaugh will command most of the attention for the 1-14-mile marathon route tomorrow at Sunland Park.

   • 2000 March 2, Harry 'snapper' Organs, “punchy face”, in alt.music.oasis‎^[4] (Usenet), archived from the original on 16 September 2025:

     I've always hated Robbie Williams downright stupid face, Hopefully the Gallaghers will break his legs aswell.

   • 2009 September 20, phil scott, “Rathbun expresses solidarity with Rinder”, in alt.religion.scientology‎^[5] (Usenet), archived from the original on 16 September 2025:

     Punchy face Marty and dickless Rathbun are toast in all areas but a few freezone type dim wits who think Elrongs^[sic] story about his almost gettinr^[sic] run over by a train on Venus was really hot, The cult is over, but its criminal empire will go on for a while yet..

4. Behaving or appearing punch-drunk, reacting poorly.

   I was so sleep-deprived I was starting to get punchy.

   • 2021 September 16, Sarah Naftalis, “The Casino” (13:58 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎^[6], season 3, episode 1, spoken by Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch):

     “It has been weeks since any of us have had even a moment of slumber.” “It's actually been only, like, 14 hours, but they get a little punchy when they don't get their sleep.”

5. (skiing) Of groomed snow: unable to support the weight of a skier, especially when the skier’s weight is all on one ski, resulting in a ski punching through the surface of the snow.

• punchily
• punchiness

From punch (“short fat person”) +‎ y.^[1]

punchy (comparative punchier, superlative punchiest)

1. (now chiefly regional) Short and thick; fat; paunchy.
   • 2017, Gregory Scott Katsoulis, “Terms: $3.99”, in All Rights Reserved, Don Mills, Ont.: Harlequin Teen, →ISBN, page 39:

     Behind him, Saretha looked bewildered as a small, punchy man in a chartreuse Lawyer’s suit raced up to her, talking fast.

• “punchy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.