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Definition of pitiful - 3 dictionary results
pit⋅i⋅ful
[pit-i-fuh
l] 
–adjective
| 1. | evoking or deserving pity: a pitiful fate. |
| 2. | evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality, etc.: pitiful attempts. |
| 3. | Archaic. full of pity; compassionate. |
Related forms:
pit⋅i⋅ful⋅ly, adverb
pit⋅i⋅ful⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
1. lamentable, deplorable, woeful, pathetic. 1, 2. Pitiful, pitiable, piteous apply to that which excites 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 heart-rending: piteous poverty. 2. deplorable, mean, low, base, vile, despicable.
1. lamentable, deplorable, woeful, pathetic. 1, 2. Pitiful, pitiable, piteous apply to that which excites 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 heart-rending: piteous poverty. 2. deplorable, mean, low, base, vile, despicable.
Antonyms:
1. delightful. 2. honorable.
1. delightful. 2. honorable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To pitiful
| pit·i·ful (pĭt'ĭ-fəl) adj.
|
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Pitiful
Pit"i*ful\, a. 1. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. --James v. 11. 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible. --Spenser. 3. To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable. That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. --Shak. Syn: Despicable; mean; paltry. See Contemptible. -- Pit"i*ful*ly, adv. -- Pit"i*ful*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : pitiful
Spanish:
lamentable, deplorable,
German:
mitleiderregend,
Japanese:
哀れな
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