1
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
the plight of the homeless family was quite pathetic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a pathetic story that made her cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in miserable
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
the crowd mercilessly booed the boxer's pathetic performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
the pundit's latest book is another pathetic jumble of factual errors, half-baked political views, and baseless accusations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pathetic
In another, Stan and a different friend try to move a heavy car engine onto the back of a truck, with comically pathetic results.
—
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Nancy Pike Hause, Estes Park Rockies need to look outward for scouting help
Does Bill Schmidt, the Rockies GM, really believe that firing the previous hitting coach and bringing in Clint Hurdle will turn around the team’s pathetic start to the season?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025
Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama
Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Writing the most unbridled, impolite, unreasonable, pathetic rant that gives voice to unseen, unheard parts of you opens a relief valve that transfers emotional pain onto the page.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathetic
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Nancy Pike Hause, Estes Park Rockies need to look outward for scouting help
Does Bill Schmidt, the Rockies GM, really believe that firing the previous hitting coach and bringing in Clint Hurdle will turn around the team’s pathetic start to the season?
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2025
Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama
Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Writing the most unbridled, impolite, unreasonable, pathetic rant that gives voice to unseen, unheard parts of you opens a relief valve that transfers emotional pain onto the page.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pathetic
Adjective
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So many of the latter comes thanks to Niecy Nash’s Nurse DiDi, who seems to take the time to see her patients as worthwhile much more often than her cohorts, the self-important Dr. Jenna James (Laurie Metcalf) and pitiful nurse Dawn (Alex Borstein).—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
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Look, everyone points to injuries as the reason for the pitiful performance so far this season, but a lot of teams are dealing with injuries.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
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For someone who prizes roadside Americana, this is the visual version of the sad trombone sound.—
Christopher Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Allergies can make anyone miserable, especially when traveling.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
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Nothing’s more miserable than foot pain before the dancing’s even begun.—
Camille Freestone,
Glamour,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Supreme Court justice calls it 'ridiculous' Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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In a world where leaders seem eager to bend the knee to Trump’s every impulse, even the truly ridiculous seems plausible.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 23 points and OG Anunoby bounced back from two poor performances by scoring 20 for the Knicks, who can win the series Wednesday night at Boston.—
Brian Mahoney,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2025
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This results in a very poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 232.7% (against 21.5% for the S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Chernow devotes a hefty portion of his 1,039 pages (excluding notes) to Twain’s personal tribulations, a depressing series of bungles and calamities starting in the author’s middle age.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
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The lack of business on Sunday and Monday nights could be especially depressing.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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The biggest change, however, has been in fly ball frequency - his fly ball rate is now an absurd 50.0%, higher than any 2024 MLB regular.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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What else can be said about Judge’s absurd start to this season?—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pathetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pathetic. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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