pitiful

pitiful

evoking or deserving pity: a pitiful leper

Not to be confused with:

pitiable – lamentable, wretched: a pitiable hovel

piteous – that which exhibits suffering and misery: piteous poverty

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

pit·i·ful

 (pĭt′ĭ-fəl)

adj.

1. Inspiring or deserving pity.

2. Arousing contemptuous pity, as through ineptitude or inadequacy. See Synonyms at pathetic.

3. Archaic Filled with pity or compassion.

---

pit′i·ful·ly adv.

pit′i·ful·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pitiful

(ˈpɪtɪfʊl)

adj

1. arousing or deserving pity

2. arousing or deserving contempt

3. archaic full of pity or compassion

ˈpitifully adv

ˈpitifulness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pit•i•ful

(ˈpɪt ɪ fəl)

adj.

1. evoking or deserving pity: a pitiful fate.

2. arousing contempt by smallness, poor quality, etc.: pitiful attempts.

3. Archaic. full of pity; compassionate.

[1400–50]

pit′i•ful•ly, adv.

syn: pitiful, pitiable, piteous apply to that which arouses pity (with compassion or with contempt). That which is pitiful is touching and excites pity or is mean and contemptible: a pitiful leper; a pitiful exhibition of cowardice. pitiable may mean lamentable, or wretched and paltry: a pitiable hovel. piteous refers only to that which exhibits suffering and misery, and is therefore heartrending: piteous poverty.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

piteous, pitiable, pitiful - Piteous is generally not used when speaking of people, pitiable means "able to be pitied," and pitiful most often means "insignificant; below contempt."

See also related terms for insignificant.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	pitiful - inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice" pitiable, pathetic contemptible - deserving of contempt or scorn
	2.	pitiful - bad; unfortunate; "my finances were in a deplorable state"; "a lamentable decision"; "her clothes were in sad shape"; "a sorry state of affairs" deplorable, lamentable, distressing, sorry, sad bad - having undesirable or negative qualities; "a bad report card"; "his sloppy appearance made a bad impression"; "a bad little boy"; "clothes in bad shape"; "a bad cut"; "bad luck"; "the news was very bad"; "the reviews were bad"; "the pay is bad"; "it was a bad light for reading"; "the movie was a bad choice"
	3.	pitiful - 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" misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, hapless, poor, miserable, pitiable, wretched unfortunate - not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune; "an unfortunate turn of events"; "an unfortunate decision"; "unfortunate investments"; "an unfortunate night for all concerned"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

pitiful

adjective

1. pathetic, distressing, miserable, harrowing, heartbreaking, grievous, sad, woeful, deplorable, lamentable, heart-rending, gut-wrenching, wretched, pitiable, piteous It was the most pitiful sight I had ever seen.
pathetic happy, funny, cheering, amusing, cheerful, merry, heartening, laughable, comical

2. inadequate, mean, low, miserable, dismal, beggarly, shabby, insignificant, paltry, despicable, measly, contemptible Many of them work as farm labourers for pitiful wages.
inadequate significant, valuable, adequate

3. worthless, base, sorry, vile, abject, scurvy a pitiful performance
worthless significant, admirable, honourable, laudable, praiseworthy

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

pitiful

adjective

1. Arousing or deserving pity:

pathetic, piteous, pitiable, poor, rueful, ruthful.

2. Archaic. Feeling or expressing pity:

commiserative, compassionate, condolatory, pitying, sympathetic.

Archaic: piteous.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

باعِث على الإزْدِراءمُثير للِشَّفَقَه

bídnýbudící soucitubohýžalostný

bedrøveligsørgeligynkeligynkværdig

bemitleidenswertmitleiderregend

lamentablemalheureuxmisérablepauvrepitoyable

brjóstumkennanlegurömurlega lélegur

compassionevolemiseropenosopietoso

lastimoso

vzbudzujúci súcit

usmiljenja vreden

acıklıdeğersizkötüyetersizyürekler acısı

令人可怜的可怜的

pitiful

[ˈpɪtɪfʊl] ADJ

1. (= moving to pity) [sight] → lastimoso, penoso; [cry] → lastimero

2. (= contemptible) [efforts] → lamentable; [sum, amount] → irrisorio

3. (= dreadful) → pésimo, lamentable
it was a pitiful performance → fue una actuación pésima or lamentable

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

pitiful

[ˈpɪtif^ʊl] adj

(= touching) [sight, appearance] → pitoyable

(= meagre) [choice] → maigre; [wage] → pitoyable

(= contemptible) [lack, excuse, attempt] → pitoyable

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pitiful

adj

(= moving to pity) sight, story → mitleiderregend; person → bemitleidenswert, bedauernswert; cry, whimper → jämmerlich; to be in a pitiful state → in einem erbärmlichen Zustand sein

(= poor, wretched) → erbärmlich, jämmerlich, kläglich; what a pitiful little wretch you are → was bist du doch für ein erbärmlicher kleiner Schuft

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pitiful

[ˈpɪtɪfʊl] adj

a. (sight, story) → pietoso/a; (person) → che fa pietà or compassione

b. (pej) (attempt) → pietoso/a; (cowardice) → deplorevole; (sum) → miserabile

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

pity

(ˈpiti) noun

1. a feeling of sorrow for the troubles and sufferings of others. He felt a great pity for her. weemoed شَفَقَه състрадание dó lítost das Mitleid medlidenhed οίκτος, λύπησηpena, compasión kaastunne ترحم sääli pitiéרחמים दया samilost szánalom kasihan samúð pietà 哀れみ 동정, 연민 gailestis, užuojauta žēlums; līdzjūtība belas kasihan medelijdenmedynk, medlidenhetlitość زړه سيزل، خواخوږى، كول افسوس كول dó milă жалость ľútosť usmiljenje sažaljenje medlidande, medömkan ความสงสาร acıma, merhamet 憐憫 жалість, співчуття ترس، رحم thương hại 怜悯

2. a cause of sorrow or regret. What a pity (that) she can't come. jammerte خَسارَه، أسَف жал pena škoda der Jammer skam κρίμαpena, lástima kahju افسوس؛ جای تاسف sääli dommageחבל खेद का विषय šteta kár sayang sekali synd, skaði peccato 残念な事 유감의 원인 apgailestavimas, gaila nožēlojams gadījums/fakts sayangnya jammerså syndszkoda افسوس pena păcat печальный факт škoda škoda šteta synd, skada ความเสียดาย yazık 憾事 жалість, жаль افسوس کي بات điều đáng tiếc 憾事

verb

to feel pity for (someone). She pitied him; She is to be pitied. jammer kry يَشْفَق على съжалявам lamentar (po)litovat, mít soucit bemitleiden have medlidenhed med λυπάμαι, συμπονώcompadecerse de, tener pena de, sentir pena por kaasa tundma دلسوزی کردن sääliä avoir pitié de לְרַחֵם तरस आना smilovati se, žaliti (meg)sajnál mengasihani vorkenna compatire, avere pietà di 哀れむ 동정하다 gailėti, užjausti žēlot; just līdz merasa simpati medelijden hebben metføle medlidenhet med, ha vondt av litować się nad زړه سيزل lamentar a-i fi milă de жалеть (po)ľutovať, mať súcit pomilovati sažaljevati tycka synd om, ha medlidande med สงสาร acımak, merhamet etmek 可憐 жаліти, співчувати ترس کھانا، افسوس کرنا thương hại 可怜

piteous (ˈpitiəs) adjective

pitiful. a piteous cry/sight. jammerlik مُثير للعَطْف والشَّفَقَه жалък lamentoso úpěnlivý, žalostný, soucitný mitleiderregend hjerteskærende οικτρός, θλιβερόςlastimero, lastimoso, patético hale ترحم انگیز säälittävä pitoyable מְעוֹרֵר רַחָמִים दयनीय jadan, bijedan szánalmas memilukan vorkunnsamur pietoso 哀れな 연민의 정을 자아내는 gailus, graudus bēdīgs; aizkustinošs menimbulkan rasa belas meelijwekkendynkelig, fortvilet żałosny دزړه، سوى ، دترحم وړ lamentoso (în mod) jalnic жалкий; жалобный úpenlivý, žalostný, súcitný usmiljenja vreden sažaljiv ömklig, ömkansvärd น่าสงสาร acıklı, hüzünlü 可憐的 жалісний; жалібний قابل ترس thảm thương 可怜的

ˈpiteously adverb

jammerlik بِعَطْفٍ وَشَفَقَه жалко lamentosamente soucitně mitleiderregend hjerteskærende οικτρά, θλιβεράlastimosamente haletsusväärselt بطور ترحم انگیز säälittävästi pitoyablement בְּאוֹפֶן מְעוֹרֵר רַחָמִים दयनीय ढंग से jadno, bijedno szánalmasan penuh belas kasihan af vorkunnsemi pietosamente 哀れに 측은하게 gailiai žēli dgn cara yg menimbulkan rasa belas meelijwekkendynkelig, fortvilet żałośnie درحم وړ، دزړه سوۍ دخواخوږى وړ، دزړه سواندى له مخى lamentosamente jalnic жалко súcitne usmiljenja vredno sažaljivo ömkligt อย่างน่าเวทนา acıklı/acınacak bir şekilde 可憐地 жалісно; жалібно ہمدردانہ đáng thương hại 可怜地

ˈpiteousness noun

jammerlikheid عَطْف وَشَفَقَه жалост tristeza dojímavost das Mitleid det at være hjerteskærende οίκτος condición lastimosa/patético haletsusväärsus ترحم säälittävyys état piteux עליבות दयनीयता bijeda sajnálatra/szánalomra méltó volta vminek belas kasihan vorkunnsemi (stato pietoso) 哀れさ 측은함 gailumas žēlums keadaan yg menimbulkan rasa belas zieligheid ynkelighet, fortvilethet żałosny stan ترحم tristeza stare jalnică жалость dojímavosť usmiljenja vredno stanje sažaljivost ömklighet ความสงสาร acıklılık, acınacak hâl 可憐 жалість ہمدردي tình trạng đáng thương 可怜

ˈpitiable adjective

pitiful. He was in a pitiable condition; He made a pitiable attempt. jammerlike مُثير للشَّفَقَه، يُرْثى له жалък lamentável žalostný mitleiderregend ynkværdig; sørgelig αξιολύπητοςlamentable, penoso hale ترحم انگیز؛ اسف بار säälittävä pitoyableעלוב दयनीय, दया का पात्र jadan, bijedan szánalomra méltó memilukan aumkunarverður, átakanlegur pietoso みじめな 측은한 apgailėtinas, vertas užuojautos nožēlojams; bēdīgs menimbulkan rasa belas zieligsørgelig, jammerlig żałosny دزړه سواندى وړ، دترټلووړ، lamentável vred­nic de milă; lamentabil жалкий žalostný beden jadan ömklig, sorglig, beklagansvärd น่าสงสาร acınacak, acıklı 可憐的 жалюгідний; нещасний قابل رحم đáng thương 可怜的

ˈpitiably adverb

jammerlik بصورةٍ مُثيرَةٍ للشَّفَقَه жалко lamentavelmente žalostně mitleiderregend ynkværdigt; sørgeligt αξιολύπητα lamentablemente haledalt بطور فلاکت بار säälittävästi pitoyablement בְּאוֹפֶן מְעוֹרֵר רַחָמִים दयनीयता से, तुच्छता से bijedan szánalmasan secara memilukan átakanlega pietosamente みじめに 측은하게, 가련하게 apgailėtinai nožēlojami menimbulkan rasa belas zieligsørgelig, jammerlig żałośnie په فلاكت سره lamentavelmente jalnic жалко žalostne bedno jadno ömkligt, sorgligt, beklagansvärt อย่างน่าสงสาร acınacak hâlde 可憐地 жалюгідно قابل رحم طور پر một cách đáng thương 可怜地

ˈpitiful adjective

1. very sad; causing pity. a pitiful sight. jammerlik مُثير للِشَّفَقَه клет deplorável žalostný, budící soucit mitleiderregend ynkværdig; bedrøvelig θλιβερός, καταθλιπτικόςlamentable, deplorable hale رقت انگیز säälittävä lamentable מְעוֹרֵר רַחָמִים दयनीय žaliti szánalmas menyedihkan brjóstumkennanlegur penoso 哀れな 가련한 apgailėtinas, graudus bēdīgs; aizkustinošs menimbulkan rasa belas meelijwekkendbedrøvelig, ynkverdig żałosny زړه سواندى، مهربان، دزړه سوى وړ، ټيټ، دغند نى وړ، دټيټ،دغندنى وړ، دتر ټلووړ deplorável jalnic жалостный, печальный žalostný, vzbudzujúci súcit žalosten jadan ömklig, sorglig, beklagansvärd น่าสมเพช acıklı, yürekler acısı 可憐的 жалісний, жалібний افسوس ناک gợi lên sự xót thương 可怜的

2. very poor, bad etc; causing contempt. a pitiful attempt; a pitiful amount of money. jammerlik باعِث على الإزْدِراء жалък miserável ubohý, bídný mitleiderregend ynkelig; sørgelig άθλιος, οικτρόςmiserable armetu حقیر؛ ناچیز surkea pitoyable מְעוֹרֵר רַחָמִים घृणित samilost nyomorult mengecewakan ömurlega lélegur misero みじめな 비열함, 불쌍한 apgailėtinas, niekingas nožēlojams; niecīgs amat dikesali, sedikit armzaligsørgelig, ynkelig żałosny حقیر miserável (în mod) ridicol жалкий, ничтожный úbohý, biedny beden žalostan ynklig, usel, erbarmlig น่าเวทนา değersiz, kötü, yetersiz 令人可憐的 жалюгідний, нещасний حقير nhỏ, không đáng kể 令人可怜的

ˈpitifully adverb

jammerlik بِصورةٍ مُثيرَةٍ للشَّفَقَه жалостно lamentavelmente milosrdně mitleiderregend ynkeligt; sørgeligt άθλια, οικτρά lamentablemente, deplorablemente armetult بطور رقت انگیز säälittävästi pitoyablement בְּצוּרָה מְעוֹרֵרת רַחָמִים दयनीयता से bijedab sajnálkozó módon; szánalmasan secara menyedihkan ömurlega penosamente, miseramente みじめに 비열하게 apgailėtinai, niekingai nožēlojami; niecīgi dgn cara yg menimbulkan rasa belas armzaligsørgelig, ynkelig żałośnie دزړه سواند ۍ په توګه ،دغندنې lamentavelmente cu milă жалостно súcitne žalostno žalosno ömkligt, beklagansvärt อย่างน่าเวทนา acınacak hâlde 令人可憐地 жалібно افسوس ناک طور پر một cách đáng thương 令人可怜地

ˈpitifulness noun

jammerlikheid إثارة للشَّفَقَه жалост compaixão soucit; ubohost das Mitleid ynkelighed; sørgelighed αθλιότητα estado lamentable/deplorable armetus حقارت؛ رقت säälittävyys état pitoyable רחמנות दयनीयता से nemilosrdnost sajnálatra méltó volta vminek, vkinek kesedihan ömurlegt ástand pietà みじめさ 비열함 apgailėtina būklė žēlums; aizkustinājums keadaan yg menimbulkan rasa belas armzaligheidsørgelighet, ynkelighet żałosny stan دزړه سواند ۍ compaixão milă, compătimire жалостность súcit; úbohosť beda žalost ömklighet ความสงสาร acıklılık 令人可憐 жалібність افسوس باک lòng trắc ẩn 令人可怜

ˈpitiless adjective

without pity. pitiless cruelty. meedoënloos عَديم الرَّحْمَه безжалостен impiedoso nemilosrdný erbarmungslos ubarmhjertig ανήλεος despiadado, implacable armutu بی رحمانه säälimätön impitoyable חסר רחמים बेरहम nemilosrdan, bezdušan könyörtelen kejam miskunnarlaus spietato 無情な 매정한, 무자비한 negailestingas nežēlīgs; nesaudzīgs tdk ada belas kasihan meedogenloosubarmhjertigbezlitosny بى رحمه، ناسواندى، بى درده impiedoso nemilos, fără milă безжалостный bezcitný neusmiljen nemilosrdan skoningslös, obarmhärtig ซึ่งไร้ความสงสาร acımasız, merhametsiz 無情的 безжалісний بے رحم nhẫn tâm 无情的

ˈpitilessly adverb

meedoënloos بِدون شَفَقَه أو رَحْمَه безжалостно impiedosamente nemilosrdně erbarmungslos ubarmhjertigt ανηλεώς despiadadamente, implacablemente armutult بطور بی رحمانه säälimättömästi impitoyablement לְלא רַחֵם बेरहमी से bezdušan könyörtelenül kejam miskunnarlaust spietatamente 無情に 매정하게, 무자비하게 negailestingai nežēlīgi; bez žēlastības tanpa belas kasihan meedogenloosubarmhjertig bezlitośnie د بی رحمه په توګه impiedosamente fără milă безжалостно bezcitne neusmiljeno nemilosrdno skoningslöst, obarmhärtigt อย่างไร้ความสงสาร acımasızca, insafsızca 無情地 безжалісно بے رحمي سے một cách nhẫn tâm 无情地

ˈpitilessness noun

meedoënloosheid عَدَم شَفَقَه безжалостност impiedade bezcitnost die Erbarmungslosigkeit ubarmhjertighed απανθρωπιάimplacabilidad armutus بی رحمی säälimättömyys absence de pitié חוֹסֶר רַחָמִים बेरहमी bezdušje könyörtelenség penuh kekejaman miskunnarleysi spietatezza 無情 매정함, 무자비함 negailestingumas nežēlīgums; nesaudzība ketiadaan belas kasihan meedogenloosheid ubarmhjertighet brak litości بی رحمه impiedade neîndurare, cruzime безжалостность bezcitnosť neusmiljenost nemilosrdnost skoningslöshet, obarmhärtighet การไร้ความสงสาร acımasızlık, merhametsizlik 無情 безжалісність بے رحمي sự nhẫn tâm 无情

ˈpityingly adverb

in a way which shows that one feels pity for someone. He looked at her pityingly. bejammerend بإشْفاق، بصورَةٍ مَليئَةٍ بالشَّفَقَه състрадателно compassivamente soucitně mitleidig medfølende με οίκτο con lástima, compasivamente kaastundlikult دلسوزانه säälien avec pitié בְּרַחמָנוּת रहमदिली से žalosno szánakozva kasihan með vorkunnsemi con pietà/compassione 哀れんで 불쌍하게 su užuojauta/gailesčiu līdzjūtīgi; ar žēlumu dgn rasa belas vol medelijden full av medlidenhet z politowaniem په زړه سواندۍ په خواخوږى compassivamente compătimitor, cu milă с жалостью súcitne sočutno sažaljivo med medömkan อย่างน่าสงสาร acıyarak, merhametle 憐惜地 з жалістю ہمدردانہ انداز ميں tỏ ra thương xót 怜惜地

have pity on

to feel pity for (someone because of something). Have pity on the old man. jammer kry يَشْفَق على، يَرْحَم смилявам се ter piedade de mít soucit Mitleid haben mit have medlidenhed med σπλαχνίζομαι tener pena de kaasa tundma ترحم کردن به sääliä avoir pitié de לְרַחֵם עַל- तरस आना samilost megszán vkit kasihan sÿna meðaumkun avere pietà di 哀れむ 불쌍히 여기다 pasigailėti pažēlot; apžēloties (par) menaruh belas kasihan medelijden hebben metha medlidenhet medlitować się ترحم کول ter piedade de a avea milă de пожалеть mať súcit sočustvovati sažaliti se ha medlidande (förbarmande) med สงสาร acımak, merhamet etmek 憐憫某人 співчувати, жаліти رحم کرنا tỏ ra thương xót cho 怜悯某人

take pity on

to act kindly, or relent, towards (someone), from a feeling of pity. He took pity on the hungry children and gave them food. ontferm oor يَشْفَق على، يَرِقُّ смилявам се ter pena de slitovat se Mitleid haben mit få ondt af λυπάμαι, σπλαχνίζομαι apiadarse/compadecerse (de alguien) halastama دلسوزی کردن برای toimia säälistä prendre pitié de לְרַחֵם עַל- दया से पेश आना samilost megszán vkit kasihan sjá aumur á (e-m) avere pietà di 気の毒に思う 불쌍히 여기다 pasigailėti apžēloties menaruh belas kasihan medelijden hebben metforbarme seg overlitować się زړه سواندۍ کول دپاره ter pena de a i se face milă de сжалиться над zľutovať sa usmiliti se sažaliti se förbarma sig över เห็นใจ acımak, üzülmek 憐憫某人 змилуватися над ترس کھانا giúp ai vì thấy thương hại người đó 怜悯某人

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

pitiful

a. lastimoso-a, pobre.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012