Synonyms of pithy

pithy

adjective

ˈpi-thē 

as in concise

marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning

a fairly pithy criticism about a notably lengthy novel

Synonyms & Similar Words

• concise
• brief
• summary
• succinct
• terse
• aphoristic
• epigrammatic
• short
• curt
• blunt
• sententious
• telegraphic
• laconic
• monosyllabic
• elliptic
• compendious
• crisp
• compact
• thumbnail
• capsule
• condensed
• elliptical
• abrupt
• apothegmatic
• abbreviated
• brusque
• meaningful
• shortened
• substantial
• abridged
• meaty
• snippy
• curtailed
• brusk
• snippety
• significant
• well-turned

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wordy
• prolix
• circuitous
• verbose
• rambling
• redundant
• diffuse
• repetitious
• windy
• tautological
• long-winded
• enlarged
• circumlocutory
• exaggerated
• supplemented
• expanded
• pleonastic
• tautologous
• inflated
• embroidered
• embellished

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pithy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pithy are compendious, concise, laconic, succinct, summary, and terse. While all these words mean "very brief in statement or expression," pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance.

a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners

When could compendious be used to replace pithy?

The words compendious and pithy can be used in similar contexts, but compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment.

a compendious dictionary

In what contexts can concise take the place of pithy?

Although the words concise and pithy have much in common, concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative.

a concise description

Where would laconic be a reasonable alternative to pithy?

In some situations, the words laconic and pithy are roughly equivalent. However, laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious.

an aloof and laconic stranger

When is it sensible to use succinct instead of pithy?

The words succinct and pithy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, succinct implies the greatest possible compression.

a succinct letter of resignation

When would summary be a good substitute for pithy?

The synonyms summary and pithy are sometimes interchangeable, but summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation.

a summary listing of the year's main events

When is terse a more appropriate choice than pithy?

The meanings of terse and pithy largely overlap; however, terse implies pointed conciseness.

a terse reply

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pithy

And outside of fighting, your companions are always ready to offer some welcome contextual wisecracks or pithy advice in all manner of situations. —Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025

My request was straightforward; please explain, in one pithy paragraph, the reason for all this hope. —George Caulkin, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024

The newsletter’s combination of pithy irreverence and countercultural credibility had proved popular and grew more so, accumulating nearly five hundred subjects. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024

The guiding principle of a Letterboxd review is to seem as pithy and off-the-cuff as possible. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2024