piteous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s a performance as piteous as it is quietly moving.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
"The amount you get per stream is piteous, so it's more likely you're going to be in a flat-share with five other people in East London."
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2024
As I type this — alone in an upstairs room — a piteous sound is issuing from the floor below.
From Washington Post • Aug. 7, 2022
When Sarah, introducing herself to her class, mentions a brother who died, her reflex not to seem piteous makes her explanation weirdly funny: “He was just like a baby, so it wasn’t sad or anything.”
From New York Times • Jun. 7, 2022
“A piteous and distressful thing, then, that you will not live to return home and tell what you have seen.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Vocabulary lists containing piteous
An Excerpt from "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Jungle Book
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
