pathetic

adjective

pa·thet·ic pə-ˈthe-tik

Synonyms of pathetic next

: having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity

: marked by sorrow or melancholy : sad

: pitifully inferior or inadequate

the restaurant's pathetic service

: absurd, laughable

a pathetic costume

pathetical

pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl

adjective

pathetically

pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for pathetic

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of pathetic in a Sentence

The spectacle seen in the theater of the news presented the American President as a failed suppliant instead of a conquering hero—an ailing and pathetic figure dismissed with the smile of pity and the gift of some sweet candies shaped as miniature sculptures of the President's two dogs. —

Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 1992

They were brave, and bravely she served them a pathetic meal of nothing but limitless bowls of little potatoes boiled in their jackets … —

M. F. K. Fisher, With Bold Knife and Fork, 1969

Her face looked pale and extinguished, as if dimmed by the rich red of her dress. She struck Archer, of a sudden, as a pathetic and even pitiful figure. —

Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920

The blind, old dog was a pathetic sight. The team was pretty bad last year, but this year they're downright pathetic. The story he told was a pathetic attempt to cover up a lie. His car is a pathetic piece of junk. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Constance Giguere Palos Verdes Peninsula Pac-12 in the dark The pathetic Pac-12 Network’s late-night game times and unavailability in many homes were major reasons that UCLA and USC bolted to the Big Ten. —

Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023 His pathetic attempt to court the Trumpers has been embarrassing. —

Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 31 Oct. 2023 Sean Hannity offers some truly pathetic advice to those afraid of mass shootings: take up mixed martial arts! —

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023 You are so wrapped up in your pathetic Jew hatred that you can’t even be bothered to take a second to acknowledge and the human tragedy of this terror attack and unequivocally condemn those who did it. —

Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Oct. 2023 Sean Hannity offers some truly pathetic advice to those afraid of mass shootings: Take up mixed martial arts! —

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023 And there’s this little house, pathetic human beings. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2023 No, Ukraine will not be a pathetic basket case reliant upon global generosity trapped in a forever war. —

Byjeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2023 The online document no longer just sat there, all pathetic and booklike. —

WIRED, 25 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pathetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French pathetique "provoking emotion," borrowed from Late Latin pathēticus "affecting the emotions," borrowed from Greek pathētikós "capable of feeling, emotional, receptive, passive," from pathētós "subject to suffering, liable to external influence" (verbal adjective from the base path- "experience, undergo, suffer") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at pathos

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of pathetic was in 1591

See more words from the same year