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

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

The real version of Dave is equal parts pitiful and menacing, seductive and unable to fully pass himself as a normal person. —Alison Herman, Variety, 28 June 2025

My pansies are pitiful, the lavender is languishing and the salvia is suffering. —Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 7 July 2025

Something about this one note prompted even this pitiful creature to a risky gesture of mercy. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 May 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