percussive
adjective
per·cus·sive
pər-ˈkə-siv 
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
There’s a real industrial approach to the sound — hard, percussive rhythms beneath the plush interior of melody, and lyrics that are just about the most fun a listener can have pretending he, too, is this glamorously besotted or gloriously bereft.
—
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Beautifully photographed by Greig Fraser, the color palette is warm and colorful, not cold and sterile; Daniel Pemberton’s percussive score is curious, bright and emotionally leading.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Beautifully photographed by Greig Fraser, the color palette is warm and colorful, not cold and sterile; Daniel Pemberton’s percussive score is curious, bright and emotionally leading.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
The work uses his signature movement language, which creates percussive rhythms through the use of the body, reflecting his experience of chemotherapy and recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussive
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New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Beautifully photographed by Greig Fraser, the color palette is warm and colorful, not cold and sterile; Daniel Pemberton’s percussive score is curious, bright and emotionally leading.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Beautifully photographed by Greig Fraser, the color palette is warm and colorful, not cold and sterile; Daniel Pemberton’s percussive score is curious, bright and emotionally leading.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
The work uses his signature movement language, which creates percussive rhythms through the use of the body, reflecting his experience of chemotherapy and recovery.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for percussive
Cite this Entry
“Percussive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussive. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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