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

Unlike other pipe organs, these engineering marvels have percussive sound effects for thunderclaps, horse hooves and train whistles, perfect for old movie palaces. — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026

That all changed this time around, with the two men staying late in the studio together for hours, trying out different percussive approaches on their own, something Mullen had never done before for any other album. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Baird, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, favors density and percussive force, while Williams, a trumpeter, tends to work in subliminal textures and blurred, dissolving tones. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026

The musicians, discreetly performing at the back of the stage under the guidance of Mesoamerican instruments director Christopher García, charge the air with percussive Indigenous wonder. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1