PITIFUL

pathetic, pitiable, pitiful

(adjective) inspiring mixed contempt and pity; “their efforts were pathetic”; “pitiable lack of character”; “pitiful exhibition of cowardice”

hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched

(adjective) deserving or inciting pity; “a hapless victim”; “miserable victims of war”; “the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic”- Galsworthy; “piteous appeals for help”; “pitiable homeless children”; “a pitiful fate”; “Oh, you poor thing”; “his poor distorted limbs”; “a wretched life”

deplorable, distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, sorry

(adjective) bad; unfortunate; “my finances were in a deplorable state”; “a lamentable decision”; “her clothes were in sad shape”; “a sorry state of affairs”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

pitiful (comparative pitifuller, )

(now rare) Feeling pity; merciful.

So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity.

Synonym: Thesaurus:lamentable

Of an amount or number: very small.

Adverb

pitiful (comparative more pitiful, superlative most pitiful)

(colloquial, dialect) In a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically.

Source: Wiktionary

Pit"i*ful, a.

1. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11.

2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible. Spenser.

3. To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable. That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Shak.

Syn.

– Despicable; mean; paltry. See Contemptible.

– Pit"i*ful*ly, adv.

– Pit"i*ful*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition