Pathetic: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something or someone that arouses pity, often with an implication of weakness or inferiority. It has a negative connotation.

• The dog's pathetic whimper made everyone feel sorry for it
• His excuse for being late was just pathetic

Describes someone or something that deserves or evokes pity. It often implies that the subject is weak or inadequate.

• The pitiful state of the abandoned kitten made my heart ache
• His pitiful performance in the game drew jeers from the crowd

Used to describe someone or something extremely unhappy or uncomfortable. It often implies suffering and gloom.

• She felt miserable after the breakup
• The weather was so miserable that we stayed indoors all day

Describes something or someone full of sorrow or misery. It can also imply something that is very bad or inadequate.

• Her woeful expression told us everything we needed to know
• The team's woeful performance resulted in a defeat

A general term for feeling or causing sorrow or unhappiness. It is commonly used in everyday situations.

• She felt sad when she heard the news
• It was a sad movie that made everyone cry

Used to express sadness or regret about an unfortunate situation or mistake. It also can imply sympathy or pity in certain contexts.

• I am sorry for your loss
• His sorry attempt at fixing the car made things worse

This word has a strong negative connotation and is used to describe something or someone that is miserably inadequate or evokes pity. It is often used in an emotional or judgmental context.

• His attempt to solve the problem was just pathetic.
• The excuses he gave were truly pathetic.

This word is appropriate when describing something that is insufficient or not good enough in quality or quantity. It has a more neutral tone compared to 'pathetic'.

• The resources provided were inadequate for the project.
• Her explanation was inadequate for resolving the confusion.

Use this word to describe something that does not meet expectations or requirements. It has a formal tone and negative connotation.

• The teacher found his homework unsatisfactory.
• The company's performance last quarter was unsatisfactory.

This word is often used to describe something of low quality or standard. It can also refer to bad performance or results and has a negative connotation.

• The quality of the service was poor.
• He gave a poor performance during the interview.

This word is used to describe something that falls below an acceptable standard or quality. It carries a negative connotation and is typically used in more formal contexts.

• The building was condemned for its substandard living conditions.
• The substandard materials used in construction led to the failure of the project.

Use this word when comparing something to a standard or another item and finding it to be of lower quality or value. It has a slightly negative connotation.

• The new model is inferior to the previous version.
• This product is inferior compared to the competitors'.