pithy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpi-thē 

pithier; pithiest

1

: consisting of or abounding in pith

2

: having substance and point : tersely cogent

pithily

ˈpi-thə-lē 

adverb

pithiness

ˈpi-thē-nəs 

noun

pithiness

2 of 2

noun

pith·​i·​ness -thēnə̇s 

-thin-

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being pithy

2

: a disease of celery marked by the occurrence of soft spongy stalks and hearts

Synonyms of pithy

Adjective

• concise
• brief
• summary

Choose the Right Synonym for pithy

concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression.

concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

Examples of pithy in a Sentence

Adjective

… Gore's prowess had been blurred by his performance in the Quayle debate and by his four preceding years in the Senate, where the prevailing style is indirect and woolly-swathed in layers of "my distinguished colleague" and short on zingers and pithy remarks. —James Fallows, Atlantic, July 2000

I read my poems in L.A., chatted up the literary set, waxed pithy and beleaguered at the book signings and wine and cheese receptions. —Thomas Lynch, The Undertaking, 1997

He does not hold forth to his family or to his court of old men; he listens,  … then delivers short, pithy edicts that are then followed. —Guy Martin, Esquire, June 1997

Unlike a great many other science books, the pithy, lyrical text never bogs down in a mudflat of facts. —Leonard S. Marcus, Parenting, December/January 1996

The critic gave the film a pithy review.

The book is filled with pithy sayings about love and loss.

a pithy little Mother's Day card

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Wheeler’s words serve as a pithy encapsulation of general relativity, Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity. —Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026

Art world figure Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, who gained notoriety with pithy, irreverent gossip and commentary delivered under the pseudonym Jerry Gogosian, was found deceased in a São Paulo hotel room on May 31. —News Desk, Artforum, 1 June 2026

Not Netflix’s pithy dramedy about two couples and friends who get together every season. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

Davis’ ability to reflect and respond with his pithy probing of the disagreeing chord turned chaos into something cogent. —Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see pith entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pithy

• smithy
• withy

Kids Definition

pithy

adjective

ˈpith-ē 

pithier; pithiest

1

: consisting of or filled with pith

2

: being short and to the point

a pithy saying

pithily

ˈpith-ə-lē 

adverb

pithiness

ˈpith-ē-nəs 

noun