Synonyms for pitiful
ˈpɪt ɪ fəlpiti·ful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pitiful

   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, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, sorrowful, touching, woful, wretched

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

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. 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, pathetic, pitiable, ridiculous, sad, miserable, piteous, wretched, hapless

   Antonyms:
   fortunate, good, estimable

2. deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorryadjective

   bad; unfortunate

   "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"

   Synonyms:
   regretful, deplorable, hapless, no-account, reprehensible, woeful, dismal, troubling, execrable, dingy, disconsolate, perturbing, no-count, good-for-nothing, miserable, worrying, criminal, no-good, vicious, disturbing, dark, grim, sad, piteous, condemnable, lamentable, worrisome, misfortunate, pitiable, distressing, bad, poor, pathetic, wretched, sorry, gloomy, drab, distressful, dreary, drear, good-for-naught, blue, meritless

   Antonyms:
   fortunate, estimable, good

3. 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, pathetic, short, wretched, silly, sorry, abject, unworthy, ugly

   Antonyms:
   estimable, good, fortunate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   compassionate, tender, tender-hearted, sympathetic, kind, merciful, lenient, mild

2. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   mean, base, vile, low, paltry, sorry, abject, rascally, contemptible, despicable, insignificant, worthless

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

1. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   tender-hearted, compassionate, merciful, lenient, ruthful, clement, lamentable, piteous, sad, sorrowful, despicable, contemptible, abject, mean

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "pitiful":

   pathetic, regrettable, pitiable, lamentable, deplorable, sad, miserable, derisory, unfortunate, beggarly, wretched

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How to use pitiful in a sentence?

1. Captain Prado:

   Che Guevara presented a pitiful figure, dirty, smelly and run-down, che Guevara ’d been on the run for months. Che Guevara hair was long, messy and matted, and Che Guevara beard bushy.

2. Nabih Berri:

   We have entered a tunnel and I don’t know how we will get out of it, we are in a pitiful situation. The government situation is completely blocked.

3. David Mamet:

   The pursuit of Fashion is the attempt of the middle class to co-opt tragedy. In adopting the clothing, speech, and personal habits of those in straitened, dangerous, or pitiful circumstances, the middle class seeks to have what it feels to be the exigent and nonequivocal experiences had by those it emulates.

4. Keith Olbermann:

   PSU students are pitiful because they're Pennsylvania State University students - period, i apologize for the Pennsylvania State University tweets.

5. Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodward:

   This was by all accounts a double murder with a pitiful feigned suicide attempt by the defendant.