Pathetic (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Inspiring scornful pity; "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The old man's attempts to impress the young woman with his outdated dance moves were pathetic.
- His desperate attempts to fit in with the cool kids at the party were pathetic and only made him look more awkward.
- The way he begged for attention on social media was pathetic and made everyone roll their eyes.
- The has-been actor's attempts to revive his career with a cheesy comeback role were pathetic and only served to highlight his decline.
- The poor guy's attempts to woo his crush with a serenade of off-key singing were pathetic and only earned him ridicule from his classmates.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The team's performance in the championship game was pathetic, with multiple errors and lack of teamwork on display.
- Her excuses for not meeting deadlines were pathetic, and the whole team knew she was just making them up as she went along.
- The way he begged for mercy was pathetic, and it only made the judge more determined to hand out a harsh sentence.
- The politician's attempt to apologize for the scandal was pathetic, with insincere words and a lack of accountability.
- The child's attempts to defend his bully were pathetic, and it was clear he had been manipulated into doing the bully's bidding.