pity 1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-tē How to pronounce pity (audio)
Definition of pitynext
1
as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sympathy
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune a woman of boundless pity who tried to care for every abandoned animal she found

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pity

2 of 2

verb

as in to love
to have sympathy for I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pity are commiseration, compassion, condolence, and sympathy. While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.

felt pity for the captives

When is it sensible to use commiseration instead of pity?

The words commiseration and pity can be used in similar contexts, but commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

When can compassion be used instead of pity?

While in some cases nearly identical to pity, compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

When might condolence be a better fit than pity?

The synonyms condolence and pity are sometimes interchangeable, but condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

When could sympathy be used to replace pity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and pity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy
in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pity
Noun
The woman hummed softly, lower lip jutting out, expression a little too close to pity for Sam’s liking. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025 Which is a pity, because the pedigree looks great on paper. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Cue more sofa wails and pitying looks at family gatherings when relatives ask you about your love life. —Olivia Petter, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024 Gi-hun and Jun-ho’s simultaneous searches have been equally unsuccessful, and the people in their lives seem to pity them. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pity
  1. shame
  2. sympathy
  3. love
  4. kindness
  5. compassion
  6. heart
  7. understand
Noun
  • People give me hate and shame about that all the time.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Once a marker of shame for many children of South Asian immigrants, hair oiling has filtered into beauty trends on social media.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Shares of Advanced Micro Devices and Micron Technology fell 7% and 1%, respectively, in sympathy.
    — Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
  • And some had sympathy for what seemed like his intuitive habit, urging the creator and others in the comments to avoid judgement based on his past.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of sympathy
Verb
  • California For Subscribers Canadian snowbirds love Palm Springs.
    — Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Courtesy of Loloi The collaboration is rounded out by 20 throw pillows, which Brent loves for their ability to encourage individuality.
    — Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of love
Noun
  • His unwavering faith, kindness, and dedication to serving others have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Sure, the product is important, but kindness—the opposite of rudeness and apathy—is what keeps them coming back.
    — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes with compassion can be extremely helpful.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Weinstein writes this unholy trinity of Rabbis with compassion and levity.
    — Leah Abrams, Them., 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of compassion
Noun
  • Yellows 1, 2, 3 and 4: Were all banned in 1959 after they were potentially linked to lesions and heart damage.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • For a lot of kids, playing FNF at its peak—before development stalled, before mods went awry—seems to hold a special place in their hearts.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of heart
Verb
  • And of course, there’s the need to understand and report on any unexpected and game-changing social media post from the White House.
    — Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Dave [Watson] and his team have worked hard to understand the reasons for this disconnect and have identified two primary causes.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of understand

Browse Nearby Words

pit vipers
pity
pitying
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Cite this Entry

“Pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pity. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pity

Nglish: Translation of pity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pity

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