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Synonyms

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.

punky 2 American  
[puhng-kee] / ˈpʌŋ ki /

adjective

punkier, punkiest

  1. Slang. of or like punks punk or hoodlums.

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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

On stage, the singer is normally a fireball of intensity, screaming punky anthems like Yuk Foo and commanding the spotlight with magnetic charisma.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

“Angular, punky, buncha noise stuff,” affirms Menashe, who also played with acclaimed Bloomington-to-L.A. band Triptides starting in 2010.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

Sum 41's music has "energy and an attitude to it in a happy, punky way," Sol, who performs alongside Luke Hare and Harry Gray, adds.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024

I got excited because there were some punky eighties-looking bands.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.