English Dictionary
Definition of “pathetic”
pathetic (pəˈθɛtɪk
)
Definitions
adjective
- evoking or expressing pity, sympathy, etc
- distressingly inadequate ⇒
the old man sat huddled in front of a pathetic fire
- British informal ludicrously or contemptibly uninteresting or worthless ⇒
the standard of goalkeeping in amateur football today is pathetic
- obsolete of or affecting the feelings
plural noun
- pathetic sentiments
Alternative Forms
paˈthetically adverb Word Origin
C16: from French pathétique, via Late Latin from Greek pathetikos sensitive, from pathos suffering; see pathos
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
sad,
moving,
touching,
affecting,
distressing,
tender,
melting,
poignant,
harrowing,
heartbreaking,
plaintive,
heart-rending,
gut-wrenching,
pitiable,
=
inadequate,
useless,
feeble,
poor,
sorry,
wet,
pants,
miserable,
petty,
worthless,
meagre,
pitiful,
woeful,
deplorable,
lamentable,
trashy,
measly,
crummy,
crappy,
rubbishy,
poxy,
wanky,
chickenshit,
Translations
- British English:
pathetic
If you describe a person or animal as pathetic, you mean that they are sad and weak or helpless, and they make you feel very sorry for them....a pathetic little three-legged dog.pəˈθɛtɪk ADJECTIVE ...a pathetic little three-legged dog.
- Spanish:
patético
adj patética
- French:
lamentable
adj
- German:
mitleiderregend
adj
- Chinese: 可怜的 adj
- Arabic: مُثِيرٌ لِلْعُطُوف adj
- Portuguese: patético adj patética
- Russian: жалкий adj жалкая
- Croatian: patetičan adj patetična
- Czech: žalostný adj
- Danish: ynkelig adj
- Dutch: zielig adj
- Finnish: säälittävä adj
- Greek: αξιολύπητος adj αξιολύπητη
- Italian: patetico adj patetica
- Japanese: 哀れな no_posp
- Korean: 측은한 adj
- Norwegian: patetisk adj
- Polish: patetyczny adj patetyczna
- Brazilian Portuguese: patético adj patética
- European Spanish:
patético
adj patética
- Swedish: patetisk adj patetiskt
- Thai: น่าสงสาร adj
- Turkish: acınası adj
- Vietnamese: cảm động adj
Usage examples
Every time he came to London he contrived to see her alone, hoping, in a pathetic way, to patch up their differences.
Martin, Joy, The Image of Laura (1993)Managing your virtual friend has never been easier or more pathetic.
Maxim (2004)I couldn't help saying that there's something pathetic about a grown man who depends on someone else to determine his taste.
Globe and Mail (2003)DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson described Mr Trimble's letter as "the most cynical and pathetic ploy I have ever seen.
Sun, News of the World (2001)I think the first time it happened, I simply sat there cuddling this poor pathetic trembling creature.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts, THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
