pitiful

adjective

piti·​ful ˈpi-ti-fəl 

1

archaic : full of pity : compassionate

2

a

: deserving or arousing pity or commiseration

b

: exciting pitying contempt (as by meanness or inadequacy)

pitiful wages

pitifully

ˈpi-ti-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

pitifulness

ˈpi-ti-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• pathetic
• sad

Examples of pitiful in a Sentence

She made a pitiful attempt to complete her work.

that piece of junk is a pitiful excuse for a car

Recent Examples on the Web

Fried wasn’t the only reason the Yankees lost on Sunday, as the Bombers’ bats were pitiful against Jason Alexander. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025

This negative sentiment was also felt on both sides of the Atlantic, given their pitiful plummet in popularity. —Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025

For their part, France produced a pitiful display of football, which deserved nothing less than elimination. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 July 2025

Once Bernstein landed on broadcast television, in the mid-fifties, such guides looked pitiful. —David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pitiful

adjective

piti·​ful ˈpit-i-fəl 

1

: deserving or arousing pity or sympathy

a pitiful mongrel

2

: deserving pitying scorn (as by not being adequate)

a pitiful excuse

pitifully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb