pathetic — arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
Pronunciation (IPA): /pəˈθetɪk/
Example Sentences
- My pathetic attempt at cooking resulted in ordering pizza again.
- The villain's pathetic plan was defeated by a group of teenagers.
- She felt pathetic crying over a movie for the third time this week.
pathetic
ADJECTIVE[/pəˈθetɪk/]
arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
His pathetic excuse failed to convince anyone.
The audience felt pathetic sympathy for the lonely old man.
The pathetic runner received sympathetic cheers and became energetic enough to finish the race.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Greek pathetikos, originally meaning 'appealing to emotion' or 'capable of evoking feeling'. Over time, the word shifted to carry negative connotations, eventually meaning 'pitiable' or 'lamentable' in English.
Breakdown
path- (from Greek pathos, meaning 'feeling' or 'suffering') + -etic (adjectival suffix meaning 'relating to'). The suffix -etic derives from Greek -etikos, forming adjectives from noun roots.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My pathetic attempt at cooking resulted in ordering pizza again.”
“The villain's pathetic plan was defeated by a group of teenagers.”
“She felt pathetic crying over a movie for the third time this week.”
“The stray cat's pathetic meowing touched everyone's heart.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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