pathetic
[ puh-thet-ik ]
/ pəˈθɛt ɪk /
adjective
causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, sorrow, etc.; pitiful; pitiable: a pathetic letter; a pathetic sight.
affecting or moving the emotions.
pertaining to or caused by the emotions.
miserably or contemptibly inadequate: In return for our investment we get a pathetic three percent interest.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
Often pa·thet·i·cal.
Origin of pathetic
1590–1600; < Late Latin pathēticus < Greek pathētikós sensitive equivalent to pathēt(ós) made or liable to suffer (verbid of páschein to suffer + -ikos -ic
SYNONYMS FOR pathetic
Related forms
Can be confused
bathetic patheticDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for pathetic
British Dictionary definitions for pathetic
pathetic
/ (pəˈθɛtɪk) /
adjective
evoking or expressing pity, sympathy, etc
distressingly inadequatethe old man sat huddled in front of a pathetic fire
British informal ludicrously or contemptibly uninteresting or worthlessthe standard of goalkeeping in amateur football today is pathetic
obsolete of or affecting the feelings
pl n
pathetic sentiments
Derived Forms
pathetically, adverbWord Origin for pathetic
C16: from French pathétique, via Late Latin from Greek pathetikos sensitive, from pathos suffering; see pathos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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