patheticadjective
uk/pəˈθet.ɪk/us/pəˈθet̬.ɪk/pathetic adjective (SAD)
C2 causing feelings of sadness, sympathy, or sometimes lack of respect, especially because a person or an animal is suffering:
The refugees were a pathetic sight - starving, frightened and cold.
After the accident he became a pathetic figure, a shadow of his former self.
See also
pathos
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Sympathy & compassion
- a good listener idiom
- a shoulder to cry on idiom
- aw
- bad/hard/tough luck! idiom
- better luck next time idiom
- cloud
- feel for sb
- fellow feeling
- go out to sb
- hard luck! idiom
- hard/tough cheese! idiom
- poor
- relate
- relate to sb
- sad
- sensitive
- shoulder
- solace
- sympathy vote
- understanding
See more results »
pathetic adjective (UNSUCCESSFUL)
C2 disapproving unsuccessful or showing no ability, effort, or bravery, so that people feel no respect :
a pathetic attempt/joke/excuse
Are you telling me you're frightened to speak to her? Don't be so pathetic!
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Useless and futile
- a mug's game idiom
- adrift
- aimless
- airy-fairy
- be at a loose end idiom
- flaccid
- fool's errand
- for the hell of it idiom
- frivolous
- fruitless
- moon around
- motiveless
- negate
- no good idiom
- nugatory
- use
- useless
- vain
- vainly
- what good is ... idiom
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Not of good quality
pathetically
adverb uk/pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl.i/us/pəˈθet̬.ɪ.kəl.i/
Other former captives spoke of pathetically inadequate food rations.
My parents' advice on sex was pathetically inadequate.