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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitiful
Writer-director Craig Brewer resists the temptation to make Mike and Claire in any way pitiful or worthy of derision.
—
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Here in his pitiful, mini Gaza where reasoning and logic struggle futilely.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Instead Tripp comes across as simultaneously pitiful and predatory, a fine line that Paulson was able to walk straight to the year-round Christmas store.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Even the minimum requirement — qualifying for the Champions League — depends on it because six points out of a possible 18 away from home so far is pitiful.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitiful
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Here in his pitiful, mini Gaza where reasoning and logic struggle futilely.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Instead Tripp comes across as simultaneously pitiful and predatory, a fine line that Paulson was able to walk straight to the year-round Christmas store.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Even the minimum requirement — qualifying for the Champions League — depends on it because six points out of a possible 18 away from home so far is pitiful.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitiful
Adjective
-
The politicians who shut down the government are pathetic on both sides of the aisle.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
His Floyd constantly straddles the line between sweet and pathetic, often falling off one side or the other.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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This struck me as heartbreakingly lame and, therefore, as a moment of vital consequence.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Serious Medical and Emotional Neglect Turner said Kaiko arrived in poor health, suffering from multiple medical issues and signs of prolonged neglect.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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The city of Plano scores restaurants on a 100-point system, with 100 considered a perfect score and 70 extremely poor.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One of the saddest bits of it, actually!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Sister Jean would pass away at age 106 this past October, a sad metaphor for the fate of Cinderella.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Marlins under this owner have no reasonable way out of this rut of building on the cheap toward a future that never gets here.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 27,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Don't forget about the newer, more compact and much cheaper Lego Technic SLS set, only $60, also 'launches' with some clever Technic moving parts.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Working with his regular cinematographer Oleg Mutu, Loznitsa gives this prison — and authoritarianism itself — a sickly luster without ever denying its wretched stench.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Now, Shinia is being given the business by Miranda, who has been put in a truly wretched position.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Customers will keep fighting back with dirty returns, unused reservations and hostile reviews.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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About 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Mooresville residents report finding dirty water filters turning a disconcerting brown.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Or a miserable 48 in the case of the Rangers, still simmering in Philadelphia.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 27,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Their home is huge and elegant, but also maze-like, miserable, and allergic to light.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pitiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitiful. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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