Definition of pathetic
1
: having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity
2
: marked by sorrow or melancholy : sad
3
: pitifully inferior or inadequate
the restaurant's pathetic service
Test Your Vocabulary
Name That Color
-
- Name that color:

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share pathetic
Time Traveler for pathetic
The first known use of pathetic was in 1591
See more words from the same year