pathetically — in a way that arouses pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: in a way that arouses pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
Pronunciation (IPA): /pəˈθetɪkli/
Example Sentences
- My cat meows pathetically whenever I open a can of tuna, as if he hasn't eaten in days.
- The student's excuse for being late was pathetically unoriginal: 'My dog ate my alarm clock.'
- The old man was standing pathetically in the rain without an umbrella.
pathetically
ADVERB[/pəˈθetɪkli/]
in a way that arouses pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
in a way that arouses pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
He cried pathetically, until coach spoke sympathetically.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Greek 'pathos', meaning emotion or suffering. Originally used in dramatic contexts to describe techniques that evoked sympathy from audiences, the term evolved to denote a quality of being pitiable or deserving of contempt in modern usage.
Breakdown
pathos (emotion, suffering) + -etic (adjective-forming suffix) + -ally (adverb-forming suffix), creating an adverbial form meaning 'in a manner evoking pathos or pity'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat meows pathetically whenever I open a can of tuna, as if he hasn't eaten in days.”
“The student's excuse for being late was pathetically unoriginal: 'My dog ate my alarm clock.'”
“The old man was standing pathetically in the rain without an umbrella.”
“She smiled pathetically, trying to hide her disappointment at the test results.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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