Pitiful: meaning, definitions and examples
😢
pitiful
[ ˈpɪtɪfʊl ]
feeling or expressing sorrow or sympathy
Deserving or arousing pity; lamentable. Full of or evoking pity; deserving of compassion; sad, pitiable. Arousing or deserving of compassion or scorn; pathetic. Expressing or arousing pity; pathetic.
Synonyms
miserable, pathetic, poor, sad, woeful.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| pitiful |
Used to describe someone or something that deserves pity due to their condition or situation. Often implies a sense of weakness or helplessness.
|
| pathetic |
Refers to something that inspires feelings of pity, contempt, or, sometimes, disdain. Often has a negative connotation.
|
| sad |
Used to describe a feeling of unhappiness or sorrow. Can be applied to people, situations, or things.
|
| miserable |
Describes a state of extreme unhappiness or suffering. Often used in relation to emotional or physical pain.
|
| woeful |
Describes a state of deep sorrow or distress. Can also refer to situations or performances that are very bad.
|
| poor |
Can refer to someone’s lack of financial resources or quality of something being subpar. In some contexts, may evoke pity.
|
Examples of usage
- He looked so pitiful that I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
- The sight of the abandoned puppy was truly pitiful.
- She gave me a pitiful look, hoping I would change my mind.
insufficient or lacking in quality
Pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness. Contemptibly small in amount. Worthy of contempt; despicable. Contemptible; mean-spirited.
Synonyms
contemptible, miserable, paltry, pathetic, shameful.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| pitiful |
Use this word to describe someone or something that deserves pity or sorrow.
|
| miserable |
Use this word to describe someone who is very unhappy or uncomfortable.
|
| pathetic |
Use this word to describe something or someone that arouses pity, often because they are sad, weak, or inadequate. This term is typically negative but can sometimes evoke sympathy.
|
| paltry |
Use this word to describe something that is trivial, insignificant, or of little value. It’s generally used in a negative sense.
|
| shameful |
Use this word to describe something that causes one to feel shame or disgrace. It has a strong negative connotation.
|
| contemptible |
Use this word to describe something or someone that deserves contempt, scorn, or disgust. It carries a very negative connotation.
|
Examples of usage
- The performance was pitiful, with barely any effort put into it.
- The amount of money offered was pitiful compared to what was expected.
- His pitiful attempt to cover up the mistake only made things worse.
Translations
Translations of the word "pitiful" in other languages:
🇵🇹 lamentável
- lastimável
- patético
🇮🇳 दया का पात्र
- करुणाजनक
- दयनीय
🇩🇪 erbärmlich
- mitleiderregend
- jämmerlich
🇮🇩 menyedihkan
- kasihan
- menyedihkan
🇺🇦 жалюгідний
- сумний
- нікчемний
🇵🇱 żałosny
- godny pożałowania
- nędzny
🇯🇵 哀れな
- 情けない
- みじめな
🇫🇷 piteux
- lamentable
- pathétique
🇪🇸 lamentable
- patético
- lastimoso
🇹🇷 acınası
- zavallı
- sefil
🇰🇷 한심한
- 불쌍한
- 비참한
🇸🇦 مثير للشفقة
- بائس
- يرثى له
🇨🇿 ubohý
- politováníhodný
- žalostný
🇸🇰 úbohý
- poľutovaniahodný
- žalostný
🇨🇳 可怜的
- 悲惨的
- 可悲的
🇸🇮 ubog
- žalosten
- patetičen
🇮🇸 vesæll
- aumkunarverður
- aumur
🇰🇿 аянышты
- мұңды
- бейшара
🇬🇪 სამწუხარო
- სევდიანი
- საცოდავი
🇦🇿 ağlar günə qalmış
- yazıq
- rəzil
🇲🇽 lamentable
- patético
- lastimoso
Etymology
The word 'pitiful' originated from the Middle English word 'pitous', which came from the Old French 'piteux' meaning 'compassionate' or 'pious'. Over time, the meaning shifted to convey a sense of sorrow, sympathy, or inadequacy. The term has been used in English literature for centuries to describe situations or individuals that evoke feelings of pity or sadness.