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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The device comes with a full lineup of attachments, including three percussive heads, a cleansing ring, LED light therapy targeting acne and fine lines, and a microcurrent attachment. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 8 July 2025 Fast-forward to now, and the scene has putrefied into a wasteland of the percussive undead. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025 If the politics are a bit simplistic, the execution is on a level that left the audience in a stunned state as if something percussive had hit them. Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025 Cymbals and other percussive instruments create the sound of thunder and waves lapping against the ship, while the music ebbs and flows like the tumultuous sea. Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Percussive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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