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

“I started recognizing individuals onstage men that I respected in prison. And I thought, if these dudes can get up on that stage, I respect it, as I don’t think they are pitiful people either.”

From Los Angeles Times

And we can lay all this suffering at the feet of the pitiful carcass of what used to be the Republican party.

From Salon

He told followers on X he had rejected a "pitiful" offer from the video game giant to use the group's top ten 1983 track Temptation in the upcoming GTA 6.

From BBC

They resign themselves to sitting at the end of the table, or standing in the background, looking pitiful for reasons no one can identify, usually provoking more sympathy than contempt.

From Salon

Moreover, she was neither a pitiful fool nor a mere laughingstock.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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