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

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

And at times, in certain places and situations, it was expected and welcome—on a long walk, or when a person confessed something pitiful, or at a funeral or a party. —Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

But Gilbert is oddly silent on this pitiful bouquet of pick-me behaviors in Girl on Girl. —Book Marks june 12, Literary Hub, 12 June 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