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pathetic

1 antonym for pathetic — opposites grouped by meaning.

Adj — Arousing pity or sadness.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Arousing pity or sadness.

“The pathetic sight of the soaked kitten shivering in the rain made us stop.”

2. adj

So inadequate or feeble as to be contemptible.

“The team's pathetic performance in the second half made the fans furious.”

Opposites

Antonyms

How to use pathetic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pathetic excuse pathetic attempt pathetically weak

Etymology

From Ancient Greek pathetikos, "capable of feeling," from pathos, "suffering."

Full origin of pathetic →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between "pathetic" and "pitiful"?
Both can mean deserving of pity, and both can also be used dismissively to mean woefully inadequate. "Pitiful" leans a little more toward genuine pity, while "pathetic" is more commonly used today as a harsh criticism.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.