PITIABLE Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'pitiable' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of pitiable are contemptible , despicable , scurvy , and sorry . While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity. // a pitiable attempt at tragedy

Q: When might 'contemptible' be a better fit than 'pitiable'?

The synonyms contemptible and pitiable are sometimes interchangeable, but contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values. // a contemptible liar

Q: In what contexts can 'despicable' take the place of 'pitiable'?

The words despicable and pitiable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation. // a despicable crime

Q: How are the words 'scurvy' and 'despicable' related as synonyms of 'pitiable'?

Scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust. // a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Q: When is 'sorry' a more appropriate choice than 'pitiable'?

The meanings of sorry and pitiable largely overlap; however, sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness. // this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

pitiable

adjective

ˈpi-tē-ə-bəl

Definition of pitiable

as in pitiful

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust the sales presentation was a pitiable display of ineptitude and disorganization

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pathetic

deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) a pitiable attempt at singing that generated snickers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in poor

deserving of one's pity a pitiable, starving old dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pitiable different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of pitiable are contemptible, despicable, scurvy, and sorry. While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

When might contemptible be a better fit than pitiable?

The synonyms contemptible and pitiable are sometimes interchangeable, but contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

In what contexts can despicable take the place of pitiable?

The words despicable and pitiable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

How are the words scurvy and despicable related as synonyms of pitiable?

Scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

When is sorry a more appropriate choice than pitiable?

The meanings of sorry and pitiable largely overlap; however, sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pitiable Despite the ceasefire, Gazans are suffering from pitiable conditions. — Matt Bradley, NBC news, 27 Jan. 2026 More pitiable people do not exist; conspiracy gave Agnes, a bearer of shattering loss, purpose. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2026 Early modern people often represented ghosts as sad and pitiable. — Penelope Geng, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2025 And Berchtold capably taps into the raw pain underneath Paul’s party-bro exterior, rendering him pitiable if not exactly likable. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitiable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitiable

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

Definition of pitiful

Adjective

Disease that has spread to those organs is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.

— James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

French cities have been shaken in recent weeks by vandalism and looting sparked by cost-of-living demonstrations, amid a broader crisis besieging the country’s lame-duck centrist government that has spiked French bond yields.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Poetry gets left behind by the exigency of character development or, in the movie’s self-defeating logic, because the art form doesn’t really matter and is only a lame excuse for people who won’t take responsibility and grow up.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

State Drive, an ugly black roadway, separates the Science Center and its new addition from the park’s Rose Garden, and serves as a sad connector to the rest of the park.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
As more details came out, the sad truth of Perry’s relapses and drug hustle emerged.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

Francis’ native Argentina, for its part, has had a wretched reckoning with abuse and victims there have been demanding action from the Vatican, including to address cases in which Francis was personally involved.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Gavroche and the insurgents of 1832—the wretched who became rioters—were ready to die defending a particular vision of the republic against the July Monarchy and the usurper Louis-Philippe.

— Ollivier Pourriol, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of wretched

Adjective

The experience highlighted a central problem in warship procurement; selecting an existing design does not necessarily guarantee faster or cheaper construction if the customer substantially changes its architecture.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
The commercial space industry looked forward to abundant, cheap launches.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheap

Adjective

Happy peasants, miserable millionaires Graham first spotted the pattern in China.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
That and the two uniquely miserable Atlanta seasons under Morris’ guidance would normally be enough to gin up some bad feelings among the masses.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of miserable

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“Pitiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitiable. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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