pity

noun \ ˈpi-tē \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

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

Another good thing about it: Like Diplo’s recent refreshingly brief California, MDM is actually an EP, and at only six songs and 22 minutes, its self pity doesn’t have time to grow cloying.

— Philly.com, "Album reviews: The Weeknd, Toni Braxton, Chris Smithers," 5 Apr. 2018
Its portrayal of his weakness — his cowardice, his self-pity, his lethal indecisiveness — is devastating.

— a. o. scott, New York Times, "Review: ‘Chappaquiddick’ Revisits a Grim ’60s Kennedy Scandal," 4 Apr. 2018
This was a guy facing death who didn’t want our pity.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "V Foundation continues Valvano’s legacy," 28 Mar. 2018
This would be a pity, because the show fascinates as a plunge into certain deliriums of the United States in the nineteen-thirties, notably a culture war between cosmopolitan and nativist sensibilities.

— steven strogatz, The New Yorker, "Beyond “American Gothic”," 5 Mar. 2018
Giovani got a full football ride to North Carolina, Yvens rebuilt his life, with no time for shame, charity or self pity.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Daugherty: I'd like to introduce Donald Trump to Giovani Bernard's father, Yvens," 12 Jan. 2018
But this was a different kind of fan attention, ugly in a stupid way, and Edwards gave the guy a look of pity.

— gregg doyel, Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: Carsen Edwards not ready to let Isaac Haas injury news spell doom for Purdue NCAA tournament run," 16 Mar. 2018
Minimally, most of us react with frustration, and some devolve into outrage or self-pity.

— philip chard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Turn interruptions into respites, not outrage," 5 Jan. 2018
His condition is a veritable haven for self-pity, but Krukow doesn’t understand the concept.

— bruce jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Mike Krukow returns, his spirit intact," 23 Feb. 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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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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.