pitiable

adjective

piti·​able ˈpi-tē-ə-bəl 

1

: deserving or exciting pity : lamentable

pitiable victims

2

: of a kind to evoke mingled pity and contempt especially because of inadequacy

a pitiable excuse

pitiableness noun

pitiably

ˈpi-tē-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• cheap
• contemptible
• cruddy
• deplorable
• despicable
• dirty
• grubby
• lame
• lousy
• mean
• nasty
• paltry
• pitiful
• ratty
• scabby
• scummy
• scurvy
• sneaking
• sorry
• wretched

Choose the Right Synonym for pitiable

contemptible, despicable, pitiable, sorry, scurvy mean arousing or deserving scorn.

contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Examples of pitiable in a Sentence

the sales presentation was a pitiable display of ineptitude and disorganization

a pitiable attempt at singing that generated snickers

Recent Examples on the Web

No wonder the film nabbed so many Oscar nominations: Academy members are always going to want their cinematic Mexico to be a pitiable hellhole in need of salvation and a reminder to change its errant ways, a trope that goes back to the days of Manifest Destiny. —Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025

The series’ pitiable ghost is Kayako (Takako Fuji), at the receiving end of violence in life, prone to continue inflicting violence on others in death. —Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025

Is there a more pitiable character in Virgin River than this woman, who was chasing after Jack while pregnant with a villain’s twins for at least a dozen years and now has to deal with the villain and the twins? —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

As pathetic and pitiable as Gloria is, Blethyn runs away with the whole movie. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pitiable

adjective

piti·​able ˈpit-ē-ə-bəl 

: pitiful

pitiably

-blē 

adverb