pithy

[pith-ee]

adjective

pithier, pithiest 

1. brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible.

   a pithy observation.

   Synonyms: concise, meaty, pointed, succinct

2. of, like, or abounding in pith.

pithy

/ ˈpɪθɪ /

adjective

1. terse and full of meaning or substance

2. of, resembling, or full of pith

Other Word Forms

• pithily adverb
• pithiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pithy¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; pith, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Truly, the wise founder had a pithy saying for most, if not all, occasions.

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We plan a day of festivities and a delicious dinner, followed by speeches that I hope will be both pithy and wise, as Agatha Swanburne herself would wish.

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Just hearing the word “penny” made her think of Miss Mortimer, who no doubt would be full of excellent and pithy advice right now.

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Could they repeat a few pithy phrases in Latin?

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Soviet officials were used to Nikita’s pithy proverbs, but no one got this one.

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Related Words

• cogent 
• concise 
• laconic 
• succinct 
• terse 
• trenchant