Pithy
adjective /ˈpɪθ.i/ — Concise and forcefully expressive
Definition
Brief and to the point, expressing much in few words — and doing so with energy and precision rather than mere brevity.
Beyond the definition
The quality of language that lands cleanly and doesn't linger past its welcome.
Origin & history
From Old English 'piþa' (pith of a plant) — the dense, essential core. Something pithy has distilled itself to its own essence.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her pithy remark ended the debate more effectively than any argument could.
The review was mercifully pithy — two sentences, no padding.
Pithy writing is harder to produce than long writing. It requires more thought, not less.
Synonyms
Antonyms
verbose, rambling, prolix, diffuse
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult delivering a clever joke
A close-up of an adult’s face as they deliver a clever, dry joke with a small, subtle, and knowing smile.
The short, dry nature of the joke captures the essence of a pithy remark. It delivers a significant, intelligent twist with minimal words, relying on the impact of the precision and the irony to create a sharp, memorable effect.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration