What does PITHY mean?

Parts of Speech

Pithy is an adjective.

Definitions

• brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; concise and to the point
• containing much pith; resembling or consisting of pith

Pronunciations

• US: /ˈpɪθi/
• UK: /ˈpɪθi/

Origin and Usage

The word "pithy" originated in the late 16th century, from the noun "pith" meaning "the spongy substance in the stems and branches of many plants, consisting of cells filled with watery sap". The adjective "pithy" originally meant "full of pith", but today it is commonly used to describe concise and meaningful expression in speech or writing.

Synonyms

• concise
• terse
• laconic
• succinct
• brief
• to the point
• sententious

Related Words

• petty
• pitch
• typic
• hippy
• thrip

Example Sentences

• The CEOs pithy speech inspired the entire company to work harder.
• The authors pithy writing style made the book a quick and enjoyable read.
• Her pithy response to the question silenced the room.