pithy

Pithy, a. [Compar. Pithier; superl. Pithiest.]

1. Consisting wholly, or in part, of pith; abounding in pith; as, a pithy stem; a pithy fruit.

2. Having nervous energy; forceful; cogent. This pithy speech prevailed, and all agreed. Dryden. In all these Goodman Fact was very short, but pithy. Addison. Pithy gall (Zoöl.), a large, rough, furrowed, oblong gall, formed on blackberry canes by a small gallfly (Diastrophus nebulosus).

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for pithy; he lists it under terse.

Where he writes about it:

A pithy utterance gives the gist of a matter effectively, whether in rude or elegant style. — from terse

Synonyms

terse brief compact compendious concise condensed laconic neat sententious short succinct

Antonyms

diffuse lengthy long prolix tedious verbose wordy

etymology Webster’s online