Synonyms for pathetic
pəˈθɛt ɪkpa·thet·ic

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. patheticadjective

   Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.

   The old man’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.

   Synonyms:
   wretched, pitiful, miserable

2. patheticadjective

   Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.

   Synonyms:
   disgraceful, dishonorable, despicable, shameful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pathetic

   Pitiful originally signified full of pity; as, "the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy," James v, 11; but this usage is now archaic, and the meaning in question is appropriated by such words as merciful and compassionate. Pitiful and pitiable now refer to what may be deserving of pity, pitiful being used chiefly for that which is merely an object of thought, pitiable for that which is brought directly before the senses; as, a pitiful story; a pitiable object; a pitiable condition. Since pity, however, always implies weakness or inferiority in that which is pitied, pitiful and pitiable are often used, by an easy transition, for what might awaken pity, but does awaken contempt; as, a pitiful excuse; he presented a pitiable appearance. Piteous is now rarely used in its earlier sense of feeling pity, but in its derived sense applies to what really excites the emotion; as, a piteous cry. Compare HUMANE; MERCY; PITY.

   Synonyms:
   abject, base, contemptible, despicable, lamentable, miserable, mournful, moving, paltry, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, sorrowful, touching, woful, wretched

   Antonyms:
   august, beneficent, commanding, dignified, exalted, glorious, grand, great, helpful, lofty, mighty, noble, sublime, superb, superior

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.3 / 3 votes

1. pathetic

   Synonyms:
   affecting, moving, emotional, tender, melting, tender

   Antonyms:
   ludicrous, unimpassioned, farcical, unaffecting

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretchedadjective

   deserving or inciting pity

   "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life"

   Synonyms:
   ridiculous, paltry, deplorable, scummy, woeful, slimy, execrable, suffering, scurvy, vile, low-down, despicable, inadequate, low, miserable, worthless, sad, piteous, hapless, lamentable, misfortunate, pitiable, distressing, measly, poor, short, wretched, silly, sorry, pitiful, abject, unworthy, ugly

   Antonyms:
   dignified, fortunate, estimable

2. pathetic, pitiable, pitifuladjective

   inspiring mixed contempt and pity

   "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"

   Synonyms:
   distressing, poor, lamentable, deplorable, sorry, misfortunate, silly, pitiable, ridiculous, sad, miserable, piteous, pitiful, wretched, hapless

   Antonyms:
   fortunate, dignified, estimable

3. pathetic, ridiculous, sillyadjective

   inspiring scornful pity

   "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett

   Synonyms:
   slaphappy, light-headed, nonsensical, hapless, ludicrous, giddy, poor, farcical, featherbrained, sappy, miserable, lightheaded, absurd, dizzy, laughable, airheaded, ridiculous, wacky, piteous, punch-drunk, cockeyed, misfortunate, pitiable, derisory, zany, silly, preposterous, goofy, wretched, empty-headed, pitiful, cockamamy, cockamamie, idiotic, whacky

   Antonyms:
   dignified, fortunate, estimable

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. patheticadjective

   Synonyms:
   affecting, touching, moving, melting, tender, plaintive

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. patheticadjective

   Synonyms:
   plaintive, pitiable, piteous, mournful, sad

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:4.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "pathetic":

   pitiful, pitiable, lame, miserable, ridiculous, derisory, regrettable, wretched, half-assed, lamentable, deplorable, lousy

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How to use pathetic in a sentence?

1. Adam Schiff:

   Instead of rewarding this great service, President Trump is retaliating against Director Chris Krebs and other officials who did their duty. It's pathetic, but sadly predictable that upholding and protecting our democratic processes would be cause for firing.

2. Ben Shapiro:

   If they are so pathetic that they can't be bothered to show up and discuss my fact-based perspectives with me, they don't belong at a major university, perhaps they ought to try pre-school rather than college, where they can feel safe and enjoy nap time, too.

3. President Dudley Brownsaid:

   It’s a nonsense 'feel good’ rule that only burdens good people but does nothing to stop violent criminals and gangsters from obtaining guns, this is just one more pathetic gun control ploy from Joe Biden as he bows down to the Gun Control Lobby and their unlawful schemes to destroy the Second Amendment.

4. Johnny Depp:

   Boy, um,' Alice in Wonderland' ? I'm so pathetic when it comes to knowing what movies I've done. I'm sorry, i don't watch them. I feel better not watching them. I couldn't, um, I — what was the question ?

5. Jerry Garcia:

   Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.