Pitiful

/ˈpɪtɪfəl/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
Deserving or arousing pity; sad, pathetic.
The abandoned puppy looked so pitiful that everyone passed by felt compelled to help.
Inferior or inadequate; worthy of scorn.
His pitiful attempt at humor fell flat, leaving the audience in silence.
Lamentably inadequate or insufficient.
The pitiful results of his effort did not meet the standards he had set for himself.

Etymology

From Middle English pitifull, from Old French pitéf (same meaning), from Latin pietas 'piety, compassion'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

pitiful excuse:
An inadequate or feeble attempt to justify something.
pitifully small:
Describing something that is insignificantly small.
a pitiful state:
Indicating a situation that evokes sympathy due to its poor condition.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Sad or pathetic situation.
Watching him play alone was just pitiful.
Feeling sorry for someone in a mocking manner.
She looked at his attempts to cook and said, 'How pitiful!'.