pitiful

adjective
UK: /ˈpɪtɪfl/
US: /ˈpɪtɪfl/

  1. Deserving or causing feelings of pity or sympathy.

    1. The kitten looked pitiful alone in the rain.
    2. The homeless man presented a pitiful sight to passersby during the cold winter.

  2. Very bad or poor in quality or ability; inadequate.

    1. His attempt to fix the car was pitiful, it's worse now.
    2. The team's performance in the final game was pitiful, resulting in a heavy defeat and criticism.

Synonyms

pathetic miserable wretched poor inadequate lamentable
pitiful adverb

  1. In a manner that inspires pity or contempt.

    1. He looked at me pitiful with tears in his eyes.
    2. She spoke pitiful about her struggles, seeking support from her friends in a vulnerable state.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "pitiful" in English means: Deserving or causing feelings of pity or sympathy., Very bad or poor in quality or ability; inadequate..

The phonetic transcription of "pitiful" is /ˈpɪtɪfl/ in British English and /ˈpɪtɪfl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pitiful": pathetic, miserable, wretched, poor, inadequate, lamentable.

Example usage of "pitiful": "The kitten looked pitiful alone in the rain.". More examples on the page.