pity
noun
sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy.
pitied
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past participleof pity.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof pity.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
pitynounsympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Véra resents being pitied, while Agathe cannot bear to confront her feelings of guilt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026
His fans rolled with his excesses and pitied his life tragedies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
The chimney sweep comforts the kids by showing why their father should not be feared, but pitied.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2025
“I am not here to be pitied and I am not a victim,” he says.
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2023
He pitied her—and yet he wished she had not come.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
