pitiful
11 synonyms and 5 antonyms for pitiful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — So sad, weak, or inadequate that it arouses pity or contempt.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use pitiful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a pitiful excuse
pitiful attempt
pitiful sight
Etymology
From Middle English pityful, formed from pity + -ful.
Full origin of pitiful →