pity

1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-tē 

plural pities

1

a

: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy

b

: capacity to feel pity

2

: something to be regretted

it's a pity you can't go

pity

2 of 2

verb

pitied; pitying

transitive verb

: to feel pity for

intransitive verb

: to feel pity

Synonyms

Noun

• crime
• disgrace
• shame
• sin

Verb

• ache (for)
• bleed (for)
• commiserate (with)
• compassionate
• condole (with)
• feel (for)
• sympathize (with)
• yearn (over)

Choose the Right Synonym for pity

pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, sympathy 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

compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

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

Examples of pity in a Sentence

Noun

She has had a hard life and deserves your pity.

I felt deep pity for the lost dog.

He didn't live to see his daughter grow up, and that's a pity.

Verb

I pity anyone who has to work at that place.

I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As played by Mikey Madison (more on her in a moment), Ani doesn’t invite pity or envy. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024

But the controversy surrounding the piece kicked off its own discourse cycle across Twitter and TikTok and has filled her comments with equal parts pity and support. —Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024

Verb

Prior to Game 1 of the Championship Series, this writer spoke with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, marveling at what Roberts had accomplished, and pitying his task of having to do it again, but this time over a potential seven games. —Dan Freedman, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Read: On pitying Melania Would-be Melaniaologists have had mere scraps to work with over the years, which is why the announcement of her memoir in July was a surprise. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pite, from Anglo-French pité, from Latin pietat-, pietas piety, pity, from pius pious

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing pity

• have mercy/pity
• more's the pity
• self-pity
• take pity on

Kids Definition

pity

1 of 2 noun

ˈpit-ē 

plural pities

1

: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy : compassion

2

: something to be regretted

it's a pity you can't go

pity

2 of 2 verb

pitied; pitying

: to feel pity for