percussive

adjective

per·​cus·​sive pər-ˈkə-siv How to pronounce percussive (audio)
1
: of or relating to percussion
especially : operative or operated by striking
2
: having powerful impact
percussively adverb
percussiveness noun

Examples of percussive in a Sentence

The song had a punchy, percussive rhythm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cox plays a Juno synth bass on the song while his son, George, plays percussive bass. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026 Occular offense The doctors acknowledged that percussive massage therapy may be helpful for some soft tissues, like muscles, with the vibrations possibly relieving pain, improving blood flow, and promoting relaxation. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 June 2026 When the ball hit the back of Australia’s net, the roar was so percussive that the stadium press box shook. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 20 June 2026 The Dirty Beaches founder’s own saxophone and trumpet lead the players’ cut-and-pasted recordings down dark alleys of decay and introspection, backdropped by percussive bangs and scrapes that suggest the construction of some great, mysterious superstructure. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for percussive

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of percussive was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Percussive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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