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

Other Word Forms

• pitifully adverb
• pitifulness noun
• self-pitiful adjective
• self-pitifully adverb
• self-pitifulness noun
• unpitiful adjective
• unpitifully adverb
• unpitifulness 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

Single women are confronted with it most frequently, but even people in relationships may experience some stranger’s pitiful regard while dining alone in public.

From Salon

But after a pitiful start to the month of July, their current lineup is finally showing renewed signs of life.

From Los Angeles Times

Others, surely, couldn’t help but quietly laugh in pitiful misery.

From Los Angeles Times

By comparison, the lower half of the American population controls a pitiful 2 to 6 percent of the nation’s wealth.

From Salon

"The pie is small and the crumbs left for dads and non-birthing parents are honestly pretty pitiful," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• dismal 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• insignificant 
• lamentable 
• miserable 
• paltry 
• pathetic 
• sad 
• shabby 
• sorry 
• touching 
• woeful 
• wretched