pitiful

[ pit-i-fuhl ]

adjective

1. evoking or deserving pity:

   a pitiful fate.

   Synonyms: pathetic, woeful, deplorable, lamentable

   Antonyms: delightful

2. evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality, etc.:

   pitiful attempts.

   Synonyms: despicable, vile, base, low, mean, deplorable

   Antonyms: honorable

3. Archaic. full of pity; compassionate.

pitiful

/ ˈpɪtɪfʊl /

adjective

1. arousing or deserving pity
2. arousing or deserving contempt
3. archaic.
   full of pity or compassion

Derived Forms

• ˈpitifulness, noun
• ˈpitifully, adverb

Other Words From

• piti·ful·ly adverb
• piti·ful·ness noun
• self-piti·ful adjective
• self-piti·ful·ly adverb
• self-piti·ful·ness noun
• un·piti·ful adjective
• un·piti·ful·ly adverb
• un·piti·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitiful¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; pity, -ful

Synonym Study

Pitiful, pitiable, piteous apply to that which excites pity (with compassion or with contempt). That which is pitiful is touching and excites pity or is mean and contemptible: a pitiful leper; a pitiful exhibition of cowardice. Pitiable may mean lamentable, or wretched and paltry: a pitiable hovel. Piteous refers only to that which exhibits suffering and misery, and is therefore heart-rending: piteous poverty.

Example Sentences

Considering the draws that Big Ten teams have been awarded, three Sweet 16 teams in two years amounts to a pitiful showing.

From FiveThirtyEight

Zenon’s closing grabbed me by the back of the neck and forced me to look at the pitiful part of myself that thought I could get away from this without acknowledging the many forms and faces of pain.

From Eater

I think the pitiful play of the defense is the reason why the Niners lost that game and are such a disappointment this year.

From FiveThirtyEight

Indeed, a jumping spider might consider our 210-degree field of view rather pitiful.

From Science News

The number of diplomats was pitiful (45 appointees in 1860), as was the amount of money allocated to them.

From The Daily Beast

Here, the time from exposure to illness is not years but days—and the death a rapid and pitiful one.

From The Daily Beast

Even after Maggie and her father expose the affair and take their revenge, they seem more pitiful than triumphant.

From The Daily Beast

This diatribe against the pitiful Washington Redskins summed it all up for their fans.

From The Daily Beast

In losing, however, he will taint his possible rivals—including Rand Paul—as pitiful members of the "surrender caucus."

From The Daily Beast

His pitiful heart deserted him at the very instant when he most needed its support.

From Project Gutenberg

He has been at once the author and the audience of the pitiful, unspeakable, long-drawn and far-stretched tragedy of earthly life.

From Project Gutenberg

They were about to make a fire and roast some of the flesh for dinner, when a pitiful cry was heard.

From Project Gutenberg

Tim looked at his mother and then at Eloise, whose pitiful face appealed to him strongly.

From Project Gutenberg

The pitiful, mean, low face and its frame of shock red hair did not appeal to Jessie.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dismal
• distressing
• insignificant
• lamentable
• miserable
• paltry
• pathetic
• sad
• shabby
• sorry
• touching
• woeful
• wretched