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.
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 Directed by Bijan Sheibani, the production was set ablaze by the percussive accompaniment of musician Stan Mathabane and the in-sync rhythms of the three-person cast: Sheaun McKinney, Alani iLongwe and Malcolm Mays. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024 There’s an intriguing discomfort to Nate Heller’s score and how Marielle uses sound, plus a kind of percussive editing rhythm to make the film’s mundane events feel heavy and its surreal events feel sublime. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 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 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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