pitiable

adjective

piti·​able ˈpi-tē-ə-bəl 

1

: deserving or exciting pity : lamentable

pitiable victims

2

: of a kind to evoke mingled pity and contempt especially because of inadequacy

a pitiable excuse

pitiableness noun

pitiably

ˈpi-tē-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• pitiful
• lame
• wretched
• cheap
• dirty
• mean
• nasty
• disgusting

Choose the Right Synonym for pitiable

contemptible, despicable, pitiable, sorry, scurvy mean arousing or deserving scorn.

contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Examples of pitiable in a Sentence

the sales presentation was a pitiable display of ineptitude and disorganization

a pitiable attempt at singing that generated snickers

Recent Examples on the Web

And Berchtold capably taps into the raw pain underneath Paul’s party-bro exterior, rendering him pitiable if not exactly likable. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025

Beau, played hapless and pitiable by Joaquin Phoenix, can’t go five minutes without dodging violent street punks, or fielding calls from his emotionally abusive mother, or narrowly escaping gunfire. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025

The Disability Culture Lab strives to change such narratives from pitiable to dignified by advising journalists on portraying disabled mindsets, pitching pieces involving disability issues, hiring disabled journalists to tell stories more authentically, and connecting journalists to experts. —Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Wilson puts most of his aw-shucks charm to the side to play this spacey wannabe, portraying Eli instead with a pitiable whine or some far-out detachment. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pitiable

adjective

piti·​able ˈpit-ē-ə-bəl 

: pitiful

pitiably

-blē 

adverb