1
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
that piece of junk is a pitiful excuse for a car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a pitiful coward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poor
deserving of one's pity
pitiful orphans who had lost everything in the war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitiful
Just about every memory of his father and uncle turns on the question of masculinity, how manly qualities must triumph over the pitiful feminine.
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Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, nearly one-third of election offices don’t have any full-time staff, wages are pitiful, and turnover rates grew from 28 percent in 2004—already high—to nearly 39 percent in 2022.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
The plight of Zimbabwe, moreover, remains pitiful, a once prosperous country not only reduced to economic ruin but also trapped in a culture of corruption and violence that Mugabe fostered since gaining power in 1980 and that is now deeply embedded among the ruling elite.
—Martin Meredith, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
Dafoe’s vampire, while grotesque, is a pitiful figure who embodies the strange, fundamental sadness of vampiric existence.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pitiful 
Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, nearly one-third of election offices don’t have any full-time staff, wages are pitiful, and turnover rates grew from 28 percent in 2004—already high—to nearly 39 percent in 2022.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
The plight of Zimbabwe, moreover, remains pitiful, a once prosperous country not only reduced to economic ruin but also trapped in a culture of corruption and violence that Mugabe fostered since gaining power in 1980 and that is now deeply embedded among the ruling elite.
—Martin Meredith, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
Dafoe’s vampire, while grotesque, is a pitiful figure who embodies the strange, fundamental sadness of vampiric existence.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pitiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitiful
Adjective
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Tucker Carlson's Fox News replacement:Jesse Watters is perfectly pathetic These 3 Arizona spots were ranked among top US dive bars for food.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
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The over is the obvious bet here given the pathetic state of both defenses.Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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In many poor and densely populated neighborhoods across the country, people have access to free, unmetered electricity.Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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That being said, today was a very poor outing as breadth (advancers vs. decliners) was awful in both markets.Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Thanks to its luxuriously soft velvet cover and satisfyingly plump shape, this pillow can easily spruce up a sad couch, chair, or bed.Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024
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That’s a sad statement about where things stand with the team and totally reasonable given its 3-10 record this season and 8-26 mark over its last 34 games.Chad Graff, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The electric vehicle maker still is shooting for a launch of its cheaper vehicle in the first half of next year and other models later in the year, the bank said after the meeting with investor relations chief Travis Axelrod.Rachael Levy, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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And cheap, lower-tech methods of creating and disseminating false information have been extremely successful on their own.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Star Wars Outlaws Welcome to a wretched hive of scum and villainy.Richard Newby, TIME, 5 Dec. 2024
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That’s the shame of ruining what could have been the kind of win that happens once in a blue moon after a wretched first half when the offense totaled only two first downs and the Lions held a 16-0 lead and a 279-53 advantage in yardage.Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The dirty secret is that students don't want to take courses in neo-Marxist nonsense.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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But this flavor swaps dirty diesel for a clean and quiet electric drivetrain built around a 74-kWh battery pack for more than 90 miles (150 km) of hauling over all kinds of challenging terrain.Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Advertisement LeBron James, who had been in a miserable slump during the stretch, found his touch, leading the Lakers with 29 points.Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
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Chest hair or a deep voice could be miserable for her.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pitiful
Cite this Entry
“Pitiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitiful. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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