Synonyms for pitiful
ˈpɪt ɪ fəlpiti·ful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pitiful

   Pitiful originally signified full of pity; as, "the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy," James v, 11; but this usage is now archaic, and the meaning in question is appropriated by such words as merciful and compassionate. Pitiful and pitiable now refer to what may be deserving of pity, pitiful being used chiefly for that which is merely an object of thought, pitiable for that which is brought directly before the senses; as, a pitiful story; a pitiable object; a pitiable condition. Since pity, however, always implies weakness or inferiority in that which is pitied, pitiful and pitiable are often used, by an easy transition, for what might awaken pity, but does awaken contempt; as, a pitiful excuse; he presented a pitiable appearance. Piteous is now rarely used in its earlier sense of feeling pity, but in its derived sense applies to what really excites the emotion; as, a piteous cry. Compare HUMANE; MERCY; PITY.

   Synonyms:
   abject, base, contemptible, despicable, lamentable, miserable, mournful, moving, paltry, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, sorrowful, touching, woful, wretched

   Antonyms:
   august, beneficent, commanding, dignified, exalted, glorious, grand, great, helpful, lofty, mighty, noble, sublime, superb, superior

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. pathetic, pitiable, pitifuladjective

   inspiring mixed contempt and pity

   "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"

   Synonyms:
   distressing, poor, lamentable, deplorable, sorry, misfortunate, silly, pathetic, pitiable, ridiculous, sad, miserable, piteous, wretched, hapless

   Antonyms:
   fortunate, good, estimable

2. deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorryadjective

   bad; unfortunate

   "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"

   Synonyms:
   regretful, deplorable, hapless, no-account, reprehensible, woeful, dismal, troubling, execrable, dingy, disconsolate, perturbing, no-count, good-for-nothing, miserable, worrying, criminal, no-good, vicious, disturbing, dark, grim, sad, piteous, condemnable, lamentable, worrisome, misfortunate, pitiable, distressing, bad, poor, pathetic, wretched, sorry, gloomy, drab, distressful, dreary, drear, good-for-naught, blue, meritless

   Antonyms:
   fortunate, estimable, good

3. hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretchedadjective

   deserving or inciting pity

   "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life"

   Synonyms:
   ridiculous, paltry, deplorable, scummy, woeful, slimy, execrable, suffering, scurvy, vile, low-down, despicable, inadequate, low, miserable, worthless, sad, piteous, hapless, lamentable, misfortunate, pitiable, distressing, measly, poor, pathetic, short, wretched, silly, sorry, abject, unworthy, ugly

   Antonyms:
   estimable, good, fortunate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   compassionate, tender, tender-hearted, sympathetic, kind, merciful, lenient, mild

2. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   mean, base, vile, low, paltry, sorry, abject, rascally, contemptible, despicable, insignificant, worthless

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pitifuladjective

   Synonyms:
   tender-hearted, compassionate, merciful, lenient, ruthful, clement, lamentable, piteous, sad, sorrowful, despicable, contemptible, abject, mean

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "pitiful":

   pathetic, regrettable, pitiable, lamentable, deplorable, sad, miserable, derisory, unfortunate, beggarly, wretched

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How to use pitiful in a sentence?

1. Justine Cullen:

   It’s a pitiful truth that women are still regularly shamed or made to feel awkward for performing the fundamental act of feeding their babies wherever and whenever they need to (of course, they’re also still shamed for not being able or choosing not to breastfeed, which I equally maddening, exposure to breastfeeding in the media is one of the things we can do to counter this, so I love this cover on many levels.

2. John Bunyan:

   Faithful: What! why he (Shame) objected against religion itself; he said it was a pitiful, low, sneaking business for a man to mind religion; he said that a tender conscious was an unmanly thing; and that for a man to watch over his words and ways, so as to tie himself up from that hectoring liberty that the brave spirits of the times accustom themselves unto, would make him the ridicule of the times.”

3. Kristen Bell:

   I refuse to spend my final moments being allowed to play with these people in misery -- I think that would be pitiful, i didn't want to let that ruin it, because it is a gift. It really does feel like we did it for a reason, and when you see the ending you'll know.

4. Marcio Astrini:

   This is a sick statement, a pitiful statement, increased deforestation and burning are the result of his anti-environmental policy.

5. Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodward:

   This was by all accounts a double murder with a pitiful feigned suicide attempt by the defendant.