pitiful

adjective

ˈpi-ti-fəl How to pronounce pitiful (audio)
Definition of pitifulnext
1
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) that piece of junk is a pitiful excuse for a car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust a pitiful coward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poor
deserving of one's pity pitiful orphans who had lost everything in the war

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pitiful Will the harsh weather mean poor growth and pitiful harvests? — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 8 May 2026 Which is a key reason why their economies—with a few exceptions, such as Poland and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—have been such pitiful performers in this century. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 8 May 2026 Written as a response to the utopian fiction that consumed Russia’s intelligentsia at the time, Notes from Underground is a mirror that reflects the ugliest, most pitiful aspects of humanity back at us. — Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026 These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pitiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitiful
  1. pathetic
  2. lame
  3. poor
  4. sad
  5. cheap
  6. wretched
  7. dirty
  8. miserable
Adjective
  • There was no pathetic pleading with the audience to come closer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • North Texas Howard WKU Northwestern Rutgers Nebraska That's a pathetic first six weeks.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • But between now, November and the lame-duck period, there’s still time to pass legislation before election results shake things up.
    — Washington Post Opinions, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Payton seemed awfully pleased with himself for his lame dad joke.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • The petition argues Mays’ language during the trial revealed something deeper than a poor defense strategy — a worldview that dehumanized the man he was supposed to defend.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • There remains work to be done, as evidenced by their poor showing in last Thursday’s 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
    — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • You guys are so stunning 😍😍 So sad to not be there but cannot wait to celebrate the beautiful newlyweds!
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • And then there’s the sad, as when Earle cries about her breakup or reveals that her mother was diagnosed with cancer while Alix was competing on Dancing With the Stars.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Brands like Slate and Ford are betting cheaper, smaller electric trucks can attract buyers priced out of larger pickups.
    — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond removing the psychological and practical barrier of injections, oral formulations are not reliant on syringes or refrigeration and are cheaper to manufacture.
    — Perdita Nouril, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Disney World has unveiled new, delightfully dark details for two rides heading to its perfectly wretched Villains Land area set to open at the Magic Kingdom park.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Hashimi’s tale of unflagging effort amid wretched inequality astounds.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026
Definition of wretched
Adjective
  • As Coca-Cola works to automate dirty soda and refreshers, CNBC's Amelia Lucas takes readers inside the secretive labs where the soda maker is planning its next wave of innovation.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When younger brother Naz arrives with an unexpected guest in tow, tensions simmer, eventually boiling over into violence as the family’s dirty secrets are revealed.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • That two-run swing merely offset the shortstop’s second consecutive game with an error, however, in what’s been a miserable defensive season.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • These findings align with consumer confidence data from the Conference Board, which found earlier this month that baby boomers and Gen Xers are far more miserable about the economy than younger generations.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of miserable

Browse Nearby Words

pities
pitiful
pitiless
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Cite this Entry

“Pitiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitiful. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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