pity

noun \ ˈpi-tē \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

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Examples: pity in a Sentence

Definition of pity

plural pities

1 a : sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy

b : capacity to feel pity

2 : something to be regretted

it's a pity you can't go

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Examples of pity in a Sentence

She has had a hard life and deserves your pity.
I felt deep pity for the lost dog.
He didn't live to see his daughter grow up, and that's a pity.

Recent Examples of pity from the Web

There’s a distinct lack of melodrama or confessional detail, the self-pity or regret that accompany a broken romance or a broken life.

— greg kot, chicagotribune.com, "Neko Case stomps the terra with the powerful ‘Hell-On’," 1 June 2018
Paper Boi paid for his hair cut by throwing his money to the ground, showing no remorse or pity for the barber.

— lauren alvarez, Billboard, "'Atlanta' Episode 5 Recap: Paper Boi's Absurd Adventures With His Barber," 30 Mar. 2018
This is a pity, for the historical narrative is, in part, the point of the show.

— julia couzens, sacbee, "Power to the people -- through clay | The Sacramento Bee," 4 May 2018
To that end, the First Lady shouldn't be reduced to an internet caricature of herself, deserving of pity.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "France's First Lady Brigitte Macron on Melania Trump," 29 Apr. 2018
Which is a pity, Ms. Dameron added, because, compared with traditional methods, modern prefab construction saves time, limits waste and often incorporates environmentally sensitive materials and energy-saving technologies.

— julie lasky, New York Times, "Prefab Finds a Home in Fire-Ravaged Neighborhoods of California," 5 Mar. 2018
Well, people certainly have a lot to say on the matter: There are some who take pity on Meghan's dad.

— amanda garrity, Good Housekeeping, "The News About Meghan Markle's Dad Has People Feeling Very Emotional," 15 May 2018
Both authors washed up briefly in southern Italy (Levi was exiled by the fascists, Lewis was an intelligence officer with the Allies) and wrote about it with insight, affection, pity, humor and harrowing precision.

— ben downing, WSJ, "‘Neapolitan Chronicles’ Review: Naples Painted Black," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pity

Middle English pite, from Anglo-French pité, from Latin pietat-, pietas piety, pity, from pius pious

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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pity Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of pity

pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, sympathy mean the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another. pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.