punchy

American  

[puhn-chee] / ˈpʌn tʃi /

adjective

Informal.

punchier, punchiest

1. punch-drunk.

2. being or appearing vigorously effective; forceful.

---

punchy British  

/ ˈpʌntʃɪ /

adjective

1. an informal word for punch-drunk

2. informal incisive or forceful

   a punchy article

---

Other Word Forms

• punchily adverb
• punchiness noun

Etymology

Origin of punchy

First recorded in 1935–40; punch ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

A Pulitzer Prize winner for “Between Riverside and Crazy,” he writes punchy dialogue and specializes in characters scraping by on the margins of New York life.

From The Wall Street Journal

As I started looking for dairy-free inspiration, I realized that many of the dishes I already loved were built that way: cozy chicken congee topped with egg and scallions; lemony hummus piled with crispy beef and lamb; bright rice noodle salads dressed in punchy nước chấm.

From Salon

In her tidy Alhambra home studio, she meticulously assembles out-of-this-world tableaux in saturated, punchy hues.

From Los Angeles Times

Viewers emerging from theatres call it "paisa vasool" - a punchy Hindi phrase for "you got your money's worth".

From BBC

"Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red," he warned, in a typically punchy video address.

From BBC