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.

Nearby words

pathbreaker, pathbreaking, pathergasia, pathergy, pathet lao, pathetic, pathetic fallacy, pathfinder, pathfinder prospectus, pathfinder, the, pathic

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

1 plaintive.

2 touching, tender.

3 emotional.

Related forms

pa·thet·i·cal·ly, adverbpa·thet·i·cal·ness, nounhy·per·pa·thet·ic, adjectivehy·per·pa·thet·i·cal, adjective

hy·per·pa·thet·i·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-pa·thet·ic, adjectivequa·si-pa·thet·i·cal·ly, adverbun·pa·thet·ic, adjectiveun·pa·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confused

bathetic pathetic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pathetical

How pathetical seemed to her the ignorance of the two men who were her companions in the cloistered house at this time.
Tongues of Conscience|Robert Smythe Hichens
Our old vicar preached, taking leave of the parish in a pathetical speech, to go to a living in the city.
The Diary of John Evelyn (Vol 1 of 2)|John Evelyn
A most weighty and pathetical discourse: they that know anything of God may savour something divine in it.
No Cross, No Crown|William Penn
For what is a heap of the most pathetical words to God Almighty; or the dedication of any place or time to him?
No Cross, No Crown|William Penn

And then, having finished this pathetical little story of his misfortune, Mr. Mollett senior finished his glass of toddy.
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for pathetical

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, adverb

Word 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012