pathetic

adjective

pa·​thet·​ic pə-ˈthe-tik 

1

: having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity

2

: marked by sorrow or melancholy : sad

3

: pitifully inferior or inadequate

the restaurant's pathetic service

4

: absurd, laughable

a pathetic costume

pathetical

pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 

adjective

pathetically

pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• heartbreaking
• heartrending
• miserable
• piteous
• pitiable
• pitiful
• poor
• rueful
• sorry
• wretched

Choose the Right Synonym for pathetic

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of pathetic in a Sentence

The spectacle seen in the theater of the news presented the American President as a failed suppliant instead of a conquering hero—an ailing and pathetic figure dismissed with the smile of pity and the gift of some sweet candies shaped as miniature sculptures of the President's two dogs. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 1992

They were brave, and bravely she served them a pathetic meal of nothing but limitless bowls of little potatoes boiled in their jackets … —M. F. K. Fisher, With Bold Knife and Fork, 1969

Her face looked pale and extinguished, as if dimmed by the rich red of her dress. She struck Archer, of a sudden, as a pathetic and even pitiful figure. —Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, 1920

The blind, old dog was a pathetic sight.

The team was pretty bad last year, but this year they're downright pathetic.

The story he told was a pathetic attempt to cover up a lie.

His car is a pathetic piece of junk.

Recent Examples on the Web

After a downright pathetic few weeks, the Russians regrouped—or at least got regrouped enough. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

The upcoming sequel to This Is Spinal Tap will be turning the pathetic knobs all the way to 11. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024

The officer’s bluster is even more pathetic in the face of what all these guys have had to endure. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024

The town was pathetic, zero infrastructure, two rundown bars. —Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French pathetique "provoking emotion," borrowed from Late Latin pathēticus "affecting the emotions," borrowed from Greek pathētikós "capable of feeling, emotional, receptive, passive," from pathētós "subject to suffering, liable to external influence" (verbal adjective from the base path- "experience, undergo, suffer") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at pathos

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pathetic

• pathetic fallacy

Kids Definition

pathetic

adjective

pa·​thet·​ic pə-ˈthet-ik 

: causing one to feel tenderness, pity, or sorrow

pathetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb