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View synonyms for

pathetic

[ puh-thet-ik ]

adjective

  1. causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, sorrow, etc.; pitiful; pitiable:

    Conditions at the refugee camp were far more pathetic than anything our training had prepared us for.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  2. Informal. miserably or contemptibly inadequate:

    In return for our investment we get a pathetic three percent interest. The carpenter we hired is pathetic.

  3. Archaic. pertaining to, caused by, or affecting the emotions:

    pathetic outbursts.

    Synonyms: , ,



pathetic

/ əˈθɛɪ /

adjective

  1. evoking or expressing pity, sympathy, etc
  2. distressingly inadequate

    the old man sat huddled in front of a pathetic fire

  3. informal.
    ludicrously or contemptibly uninteresting or worthless

    the standard of goalkeeping in amateur football today is pathetic

  4. obsolete.
    of or affecting the feelings
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plural noun

  1. pathetic sentiments
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • 貹ˈٳپ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • 貹·ٳ··· adverb
  • 貹·ٳ···Ա noun
  • ··貹·ٳ· adjective
  • hy·per·貹·ٳ··· adverb
  • ܲ·-貹·ٳ· adjective
  • qua·si-貹·ٳ··· adverb
  • ܲ·貹·ٳ· adjective
  • un·貹·ٳ··· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pathetic1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French 貹ٳéپܱ or from Late Latin 貹ٳŧپܲ, from Greek 貹ٳŧپó “capable of emotion, impassioned, sensitive,” equivalent to 貹ٳŧ(ó) “subject to suffering; one who has suffered; subject to external influence or change; (in medicine) diseased” (derivative of á𾱲 “to suffer”) + -ikos adjective suffix; -ic
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pathetic1

C16: from French 貹ٳéپܱ, via Late Latin from Greek pathetikos sensitive, from pathos suffering; see pathos
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The administration tried to finesse it by saying that war plans aren't classified, which is pathetic, but they managed to quiet the calls for Hegseth to resign.

From

The bowing and scraping from some corporate bigwigs is so pathetic that it sometimes gets comical.

From

I actually do want to make a case that Navarro is not quite as bad as Musk, or at least is more deeply pathetic.

From

It is so pathetic how everything is rabidly political these days.

From

The abuse, the threats - it's not passion, it's pathetic.

From

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pathbreakingpathetic fallacy