as in merciful
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Dissimilar Words
as in loving
to have sympathy for
I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitying
Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
The mother took him in, pitying his orphan status and appreciating his straightforward manners, neither servile nor presumptuous, but respectful and unembarrassed and warm.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitying
Adjective
-
Guthrie and her siblings recorded videos, pleading for news, for help, for a merciful change of heart from whoever had absconded with their mom.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Despite his impassive eyes, balding pate, and slit of a smile, Robert Duvall could be volcanic and melancholic, mysterious and straightforward, vengeful and merciful.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kirk had built a reputation as an activist in part by showing up on college campuses to sell conservatism to NPR-loving liberals.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Maul and Devon's relationship is an entertaining tug-of-war; Lawson is a caf-loving lawman best described as well-meaning, but out of his element; and the inevitable arrival of Imperial forces (including two Inquisitors) quickly threatens disaster for both sides.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What Spence discovered was that her design aesthetic is a cross of Mediterranean drought tolerant plants and native plants.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Like many other succulents, 'Angelina' stonecrops are drought-tolerant, can grow in sandy or gravelly soil, and thrive in sunny, well-draining conditions.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His sympathetic patter also gives Guirgis an opportunity to start weaving in the character’s politics.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
To the chat-group members, her signature came as a particular disappointment, because she was seen as more sympathetic to their concerns.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s why understanding how carbon monoxide detectors work is essential for protecting your household.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Chastain, who is the lead star and an executive producer of the series, was not especially understanding.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those key warning signs include low patient counts, excessive billing, staff shared across multiple companies, and supposedly terminally ill patients who were later discharged alive.—
Adam Yamaguchi,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Finally, remember to be polite, patient, and persistent.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cherry tomatoes are more forgiving than larger varieties and tend to produce reliably.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be impacted.—
Mark Sherman,
Twin Cities,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pitying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitying. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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