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

At the time, she had only shared two singles from the upcoming project — “Skittles,” an indie-pop tribute to her late first love, and “Ysilandia” a punky guitar ballad featuring fellow Puerto Rican singer Robi.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025

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

The steps are made of thick wood, but slick and punky soft where the water has been dripping all these years, and I can feel how it sags under my feet.

From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick

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

Boy Harsher’s style, variously described as “coldwave” and “electronic body music,” tends toward the punkier side of synthesizer-driven dance styles.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 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

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

From Polly of the Circus by Mayo, Margaret

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

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

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

From Side-stepping with Shorty by Ford, Sewell