pity 1 of 2

pity

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pity are commiseration, compassion, condolence, and sympathy. While all these words 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.

felt pity for the captives

When is it sensible to use commiseration instead of pity?

The words commiseration and pity can be used in similar contexts, but commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

When can compassion be used instead of pity?

While in some cases nearly identical to pity, compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

When might condolence be a better fit than pity?

The synonyms condolence and pity are sometimes interchangeable, but condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

When could sympathy be used to replace pity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and pity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy
in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

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 pity
Noun
There was little pity from adults. John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025 The Boombox 3 saves you from that pity clapping and actually lets the music take over. PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
His fans rolled with his excesses and pitied his life tragedies. Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025 Wilson himself was celebrated for his beautiful music and pitied for his demons. Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pity
Noun
  • What a shame Dennis Gimball won’t be alive to run on it.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Which is a shame, as Denver had veteran hands on-side.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Or our friends might simply offer sympathy and assure us that all would be well—a meaningless consolation, intended only to force us to focus our attention elsewhere.
    Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The writer-director doesn’t solicit sympathy for Polly (played by Dakota Fanning) or impose meaning on her suffering.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Unsurprisingly, the families of deceased celebrities caught in the crossfire—those of Malcolm, MLK, Bob Ross, Robin Williams, and others—aren’t loving it.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Who doesn’t love coming home from the grocery store with a fresh block of cheese?
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • What may seem like a spontaneous act of kindness—or a bargain—can quickly turn into a serious financial and emotional commitment.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Her leadership and kindness have made a lasting impact on our school community.
    Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Now cancer-free, O’Connell hopes her story serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of the importance of compassion, awareness, and authenticity in how people support the breast cancer community.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Taylor’s initiative, compassion, and leadership inspire others and reflect the very best of Chaparral.
    Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There’s a common theme with Steen, Arbour and Jackman — all three players were heart-and-soul players with the Blues.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Our hearts are extra full this week 🥰 #DedicationNight featuring our stars’ special guests is TONIGHT - 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Trade patterns and alliances may shift but great companies understand the importance of rotating across geographies to develop talent for leadership roles.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Lyra’s quest to understand Dust brings her into confrontation with human and other worldly forces who champion moral absolutism over imagination, ignorance over knowledge, authoritarianism over free will and cold, disinterested rationality over empathy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pity. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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