punchy

[puhn-chee]

See more synonyms for punchy on Thesaurus.com

adjective, punch·i·er, punch·i·est. Informal.

punch-drunk.
being or appearing vigorously effective; forceful.

Origin of punchy

First recorded in 1935–40; punch¹ + -y¹

Related formspunch·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for punchy

confused, dazed, groggy

Examples from the Web for punchy

Contemporary Examples of punchy

He had an answer ready for everything Lehrer and Obama threw at him, and his answers were punchy and memorable.
The Professor and the Consultant
Megan McArdle
October 4, 2012

Historical Examples of punchy

Beautiful place, Punchy, and the mountain air seems to come down with the water and fill you full of strength.
!Tention
George Manville Fenn
Bagsby was a punchy man, with a bald head, and a nose which betokened his habitual addiction to the fiery grape of Portugal.
Tales from Blackwood
Various
The wind would almost tear the roof off, and Punchy howled—he thought he was dying, too, maybe.
The Brass Bound Box
Evelyn Raymond
I get another cuffing around but I am too punchy already to feel anything.
Operation Earthworm
Joe Archibald

British Dictionary definitions for punchy

punchy

adjective punchier or punchiest

an informal word for punch-drunk
informal incisive or forcefula punchy article

Derived Formspunchily, adverbpunchiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for punchy

adj.1

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

adj.2

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