Pitiful
'pɪtɪfəl
Definitions
2 meaningsDeserving or arousing pity, or being contemptibly small or insignificant.
'pɪtɪfəl
Deserving or arousing pity.
The abandoned puppy let out a pitiful whimper.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see a tiny, injured bird struggling to fly. You feel sorry for it, right? That's what pitiful is like. It means something or someone makes you feel bad because they are sad, weak, or in a bad situation.
👶 For kids: When something is pitiful, it means it's so sad or bad that you feel sorry for it.
More Examples
The team's performance was pitiful, they didn't even score a point.
She made a pitiful attempt at an apology.
How It's Used
"The homeless man's pitiful appearance evoked sympathy."
"In the novel, the hero's pitiful circumstances highlighted the injustice he faced."
So small or insignificant as to be deserving of contempt.
'pɪtɪfəl
Contemptibly small or inadequate.
The meal was a pitiful excuse for dinner.
💡 Simply: Imagine your drawing has only a few lines and it's not very good. It’s not something to be proud of, and you might think it's kind of weak and worthless. That's like something being pitiful - not good at all.
👶 For kids: When something is pitiful, it means it's not very good or impressive.
More Examples
His knowledge of history was pitiful.
The amount of rain they received was pitiful.
How It's Used
"Their defense was pitiful; the other team scored easily."
"The company's profits were pitiful this quarter."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle English pitous, from Old French pitos, from pitie (pity).
The word 'pitiful' has been used in English since the 14th century and has largely retained its original meaning of evoking pity or contempt.
Memory tip
Think of a 'pit' – something deep and sad. Feeling pitiful is like being in a pit of sadness.
Word Origin
"worthy of pity"