adj

pathetic

puh-THEH-tihk

adj

Arousing pity or sadness.

"The stray dog's pathetic whimpering broke her heart."

So inadequate or feeble as to be contemptible.

"His attempt at an apology was pathetic."

"That's a pathetic excuse for being late."

How to Use Pathetic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither genuinely sad and pity-inducing, or (more commonly today) so weak or poor that it's almost laughable or contemptible.

Common mistake

In everyday speech, "pathetic" is usually an insult meaning "feeble" or "hopeless," not a neutral description of sadness.

Common pairings

pathetic excuse pathetic attempt pathetically weak

more pathetic comparative, most pathetic superlative

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The stray dog's _____ whimpering broke her heart.

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

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