punchy

[puhn-chee] /ˈpʌn tʃi/
adjective, punchier, punchiest. Informal.
1.
punch-drunk.
2.
being or appearing vigorously effective; forceful.
Origin
1935-40; punch1 + -y1
Related forms
punchiness, noun
Examples from the web for punchy
  • The film does contain several punchy songs that would sound better in any other context than they do here.
  • She had an agile, teasing sense of humor that included a sure grasp of the absurd and an instinct for punchy ripostes.
  • At once punchy and dreamlike, this is a hugely attractive show.
  • Stories that can be boiled down to a single, punchy headline are exactly the sort that succeed by these measures.
  • So there is also powerful punchy morality at work here.
  • Unfortunately, his style calcified into tricky panoplies of stock modernistic forms, more suited to punchy graphic art.
  • At both shows, fans sang along to his poetically succinct lyrics, which he delivers in a punchy and sincere style.
  • Gilroy's dialogue is punchy even when it's more about atmosphere than forward motion.
  • Use punchy, tightly written copy-as few words as possible, both in the headline and in supporting copy.
  • Each one has a personality or a temperament and the traits that are coming through are naughty, sweet, tender and punchy.
British Dictionary definitions for punchy

punchy

/ˈpʌntʃɪ/
adjective punchier, punchiest
1.
an informal word for punch-drunk
2.
(informal) incisive or forceful: a punchy article
Derived Forms
punchily, adverb
punchiness, noun
Word Origin and History for punchy
adj.

"nervously anxious; irritable from fatigue," 1937, from punch (v.) + -y (2). Perhaps originally a shortening of punch-drunk. Related: Punchily; punchiness.

"full of vigor," 1926, from punch (n.3) + -y (2). Related: Punchily; punchiness.

Slang definitions & phrases for punchy

punchy

adjective
  1. Exhibiting brain damage from repeated blows to the head; punch-drunk: Sailor Bob, a punchy stumble-bum (1937+)
  2. Feeling somewhat confused and battered, as if punch-drunk: Even if she's a little punchy and hyper from doing a dozen interviews that day (1940s+)
  3. Having force, impact, energy, etc; potent; jazzy, zingy: The English language may someday be as colorful and punchy as it was in Elizabethan times (1926+)