pitiful

[pit-i-fuhl] / ˈpɪt ɪ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

in bad shape; poor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dismal distressing insignificant lamentable miserable paltry pathetic sad shabby sorry touching woeful wretched

WEAK

abject affecting afflicted arousing base beggarly cheap cheerless comfortless commiserative compassionate contemptible deplorable despicable distressed grievous heartbreaking heartrending inadequate joyless low mean mournful moving piteous pitiable scurvy sorrowful stirring suffering tearful vile worthless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful fortunate glad good happy hopeful important joyful lucky nice rich significant substantial wealthy

WEAK

excellent superb superior wonderful worthwhile

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.

They only have one Slam in 15 years, a pitiful total given the resources they have.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

"How pitiful," he said, lowering a thermometer into the water.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Unsurprisingly, War Secretary Warrior-Ethos-Man appeared on Fox News the next day to brag about this pitiful behavior, acting as if he’d won a wrestling match with a grizzly bear.

From Salon • Dec. 3, 2025

"Such a pitiful number of films from the past year have been made by women."

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025

I asked Ishtar, hating how pitiful I sounded.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Vocabulary lists containing pitiful

List 12

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Crash

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Commonly Confused Words, List 2

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