punchier; punchiest
1
c
: zesty
It is an elegant dish, although the sauce seems overly polite now. I remember it when the fresh coriander was an intense and punchy flavor.—
Caroline Bates
Caroline Bates2
: dazed, punch-drunk
… I arrived in Paris after a thirteen-hour flight, unwashed, unshaved, punchy from jet lag, discombobulated …—David Berlinski
David BerlinskiExamples of punchy in a Sentence
shrimp in a punchy sauce
She was punchy with fatigue.
Recent Examples on the Web
The spicy crema base balanced the smoky chicken, roasted corn, and punchy jalapeños perfectly, while the lime added a sharp, welcome spark.
—Evan Moore
december 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
Chorizo chili hot dogs leaning on Mexican oregano and cilantro or curry chicken pasta salad—punchy explorations to foster connections that bring me closer to my version of home.
—Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
This punchy quote appears courtesy of Alyssa Mastromonaco, author, podcaster and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff; MacNicol interviewed her for the story.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 Dec. 2025
So many funny jokes are made even more punchy by Padilla’s uncanny impressions and frenetic delivery.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punchy
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.
Evan Moore
december 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
Chorizo chili hot dogs leaning on Mexican oregano and cilantro or curry chicken pasta salad—punchy explorations to foster connections that bring me closer to my version of home.
—Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
This punchy quote appears courtesy of Alyssa Mastromonaco, author, podcaster and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff; MacNicol interviewed her for the story.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 Dec. 2025
So many funny jokes are made even more punchy by Padilla’s uncanny impressions and frenetic delivery.
—Rima Parikh, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punchy
Cite this Entry
“Punchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punchy. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share