Meaning & use
pitiful
Arousing pity because of weakness or suffering, or deserving scorn for being poor in quality.
See it in a sentence
The stray dog's pitiful whimper made everyone in the shelter want to take it home.
His pitiful attempt at an apology only made the argument worse.
A note on using this word
Pitiful can express genuine sympathy, as in a pitiful sight, or dismissive scorn, as in a pitiful effort; tone depends on context.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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