percussive

adjective

per·​cus·​sive pər-ˈkə-siv How to pronounce percussive (audio)
1
: of or relating to percussion
especially : operative or operated by striking
2
: having powerful impact
percussively adverb
percussiveness noun

Examples of percussive in a Sentence

The song had a punchy, percussive rhythm.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Born in Brazil to parents who immigrated from South Korea, Paek is a culinary enthusiast and influencer whose distinctive videos pair quick cuts of him preparing a dish to the tune of a pop song, timing his percussive chops, splashes and movements to the steps of the recipe. Ari Daniel, NPR, 27 Dec. 2024 Also, basing her sound around percussive bluegrass stylings mixing with early 2000s pop-punk standards has developed a unique collaboration of banjos, guitars and mandolins with aggressive four-on-the-floor sensibilities. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2024 Hussain’s list of collaborators over the years is perhaps as diverse and extensive as his percussive talent — Earth, Wind & Fire, Van Morrison, Pharaoh Sanders, Yo-Yo Ma, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pat Martino, Charles Lloyd, and Eric Harland all benefited from his deft touch and keen ear. Taran Dugal, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024 If the whole song had been percussive like that, the chorus wouldn’t have stood out. Justin Curto, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for percussive 

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of percussive was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near percussive

Cite this Entry

“Percussive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussive. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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