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