Definition of PATHETIC

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

The two-on-one generally involves the season's villain and usually takes place in a remote locale, to make the departing contestant look all the more pathetic. — Lisa Bonos, chicagotribune.com, "On 'The Bachelorette,' Jordan the villain goes home but insecure Chris gets to stay," 26 June 2018 But Giuliani's aspirations to finally be seen as a serious Beltway player, and West's attempts to stay on the top of a rap game that's been won by new geniuses like the Pulitzer Prize-winning Kendrick Lamar, were not only pathetic. — Lorraine Ali, latimes.com, "Kanye West and Rudy Giuliani: The mouths that recklessly roared," 5 May 2018 So once again, this poor pathetic individual is a liar. — Matthew Martinez, star-telegram, "NRA board member Ted Nugent: ‘Mushy-brained’ Parkland shooting survivors ‘have no soul’ | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 31 Mar. 2018 But the sort of behavior that is amusing in a sit-com character like Costanza only comes across as erratic and pathetic in the leader of a superpower. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Like George Costanza, Trump is the master of the sadly belated comeback.," 10 June 2018 What the Bachelorette needs to be above all is a woman the audience wants to root for—pitiable, but not pathetic. — Mattie Kahn, Glamour, "Cazzie David Should Be the Next Bachelorette: A Proposal," 10 July 2018 She was played indelibly by Louise Lasser, who made Mary’s stupor of detachment both pathetic and funny. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Why Mary Hartman shouldn’t be forgotten," 21 May 2018 In too many recent elections, particularly primaries, that less than acceptable characterization is more accurately labeled pathetic. — The Aegis, "Hard look needed at election problems in Maryland [Editorial]," 12 July 2018 In contrast, the band's website, like almost all official websites of the time, was pathetic. — Nancy Baym, WIRED, "Book Excerpt: How Music Fans Built the Internet," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pathetic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.