inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
Used in a Sentence
pitiful
How to use pitiful in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for pitiful.
Editorial note
Trying to give them the meaning you're going for is rather pitiful given you're so earnest!
Examples11
Definitions3
Parts of speech1
Quick take
inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of pitiful gathered in one view.
bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"
deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for pitiful.
adjective
inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
adjective
bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs"
See also: deplorable, distressing, lamentable, sad, sorry
adjective
deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life"
See also: hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, poor, wretched
Example sentences
Trying to give them the meaning you're going for is rather pitiful given you're so earnest!
Isn't one thread enough space to discuss this pitiful situation?
[By the way, the Wikipedia page on Classical Logic is in a pitiful state.
And yet, every week here we're regaled with pitiful cries from founders that "we can't recruit and hire enough talent!
The idea that techies somehow are entitled to women is sad and pitiful.
I hope we'll see more and more of this type of development, it's pitiful that nuclear technology has stalled in the US.
More pitiful, bullshit statistics out of BTC fairyland.
But it is just tradition!Aged 18, perhaps hungover, you read out your pitiful but elegant essay.
They often do, though, because transcending this pitiful security model requires that users install software.
Let's hope their pitiful loss of morale leads them to develop a conscience, respect for the law, or whatever it takes to stop doing things that lead to feeling so bad.> “They feel they’ve been hung out to dry, and they’re right.”Bullshit.
That's because the lever doesn't contain the shitty working conditions, danger, pressure, back-to-back shifts, forced overtime, and the knowledge that even that pitiful machine can be snatched away from you at the whim of bastards, and society will blame it on you.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use pitiful in a sentence?
Trying to give them the meaning you're going for is rather pitiful given you're so earnest!
What does pitiful mean?
inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
What part of speech is pitiful?
pitiful is commonly used as adjective.