pit|i|ful

pit|i|ful
pit|i|ful «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective.
1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »

a pitiful story, a pitiful sight.

2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).

SYNONYM(S): compassionate, merciful.
3. deserving contempt; to be scorned; mean: »

Driving away after hitting a dog is a pitiful act.

pit´i|ful|ly, adverb.
pit´i|ful|ness, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Pitiful, piteous, pitiable mean arousing pity or to be pitied. Pitiful emphasizes the effect of pity aroused by someone or something felt to be touching or pathetic: »

The deserted children were pitiful.

Piteous emphasizes the quality in the thing itself that makes it appeal for pity and move the heart: »

Their sad faces were piteous.

Pitiable emphasizes arousing sorrow or regret, often mixed with contempt, for what deserves or needs to be pitied: »

Their bodies and clothes were in a pitiable condition.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • pit´i|ful|ly — pit|i|ful «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective. 1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »a pitiful story, a pitiful sight. 2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »The Lord is very pitiful, and of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pit´i|ful|ness — pit|i|ful «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective. 1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »a pitiful story, a pitiful sight. 2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »The Lord is very pitiful, and of… …   Useful english dictionary

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  • pitiful — pit|i|ful [ pıtıfl ] adjective 1. ) looking or sounding so unhappy that you feel sympathy and sadness: The scrawny little kitten looked so pitiful out in the rain. The refugee camp was a pitiful sight. 2. ) extremely bad: a pitiful performance a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • pitiful — pit•i•ful [[t]ˈpɪt ɪ fəl[/t]] adj. 1) evoking or deserving pity: a pitiful fate[/ex] 2) arousing contempt by smallness, poor quality, etc.: pitiful attempts[/ex] 3) archaic full of pity; compassionate • Etymology: 1400–50 pit′i•ful•ly, adv. syn:… …   From formal English to slang

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  • Pitiful — Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913 Webster] A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pitifully — Pitiful Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pitifulness — Pitiful Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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