punky

¹ American  

[puhng-kee] / ˈpʌŋ ki /

adjective

punkier, punkiest

1. of, like, or pertaining to spongy punk.

2. burning very slowly, as a fire.

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punky ² American  

[puhng-kee] / ˈpʌŋ ki /

adjective

punkier, punkiest

1. Slang. of or like punks or hoodlums.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of punk rock, its performers, or its devotees.

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Other Word Forms

• punkiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of punky¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; punk ² + -y ¹

Origin of punky²

punk ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

punky punkier punkiest

With Wood now fully integrated into the group , punky, guitar-centric rockers like “Respectable,” “When the Whip Comes Down” and “Shattered” snarl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

However a more reflective and melodic sound emerged, with 2002 release The Remote Part making Idlewild known as much for poetic lyricism as much as punky energy.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2025

And the untamed, punky energy of People was the only number where the band were really allowed to cut loose.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025

We were rough around the edges, punky, and I liked that.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2025

He had made new fire, which he now kept going using partially rotten wood because the punky wood would smolder for many hours and still come back with fire.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

Here’s McVie, as a songwriter, doing her best Lindsey Buckingham, rising to her bandmate’s challenge of bringing a punkier edge to the band’s sprawling 1979 double album “Tusk.”

From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2022

During the cruise, he sat in with multiple acts, from Cantrell to the punkier Waco Brothers.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 11, 2022

They preferred the punkier numbers, like “Even the Losers” and “Refugee,” to the Byrds-ier T.P.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 13, 2015

On the former, there's Nancy Whang, punkier and less polished than Ware, acting all cool and untouchable – as is her forte – before unexpectedly and gloriously blossoming into a loved-up chorus.

From The Guardian ● May 2, 2013

A punkier version of a song I’d heard before started to play over the coffee shop’s speakers.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

A charming mini-dress from 2000 by Miguel Adrover, known for redesigning salvaged garments, may be the punkiest postpunk garment in the whole show.

From New York Times ● May 9, 2013

"I can believe that," says I. For an auto it was the punkiest ever.

From Side-stepping with Shorty by Ford, Sewell

For a gallery play, it was the punkiest I ever put up.

From Shorty McCabe by Wilson, F. Vaux (Francis Vaux)

Say, wasn't that the punkiest stunt that fellow in black was doin' on the platform?

From Polly of the Circus by Mayo, Margaret