pitiful

1 of 2

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

pitifulness

2 of 2

noun

piti·​ful·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being pitiful

Synonyms of pitiful

Adjective

• pathetic
• sad

Examples of pitiful in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Yet Scudder, a progressive thirty-six-year-old real-estate analyst raised by lesbians on a purple-hull-pea farm in East Texas, assumed the post in 2025, and has been in a rush to reverse his party’s pitiful showings. — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026

Just 7% of Democrats approve, along with a pitiful 12% of independents. — Jon Keller, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Herbert's six interceptions is only surpassed by Drake Maye's pitiful start to the season. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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