pathetic

  • 11pathetic — [[t]pəθe̱tɪk[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED 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 dog with a curly tail... The small group of… …

    English dictionary

  • 12pathetic — adj. 1) pathetic to + inf. (it was pathetic to watch her condition deteriorate day by day) 2) pathetic that + clause (it s pathetic that he has sunk so low) * * * [pə θetɪk] pathetic to + int. (it was pathetic to watch her condition deteriorate… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 13pathetic — pa|thet|ic S3 [pəˈθetık] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: pathétique, from Latin, from Greek, from paschein to suffer ] 1.) something or someone that is pathetic is so useless, unsuccessful, or weak that they annoy you ▪ You re pathetic!… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 14pathetic — pa|thet|ic [ pə θetık ] adjective * 1. ) useless or not effective in an annoying way: He made a pathetic attempt to explain his failure. That s the most pathetic excuse I ve ever heard. 2. ) if someone or something looks or sounds pathetic, you… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 15pathetic */ — UK [pəˈθetɪk] / US adjective 1) useless or not effective in an annoying way That s the most pathetic excuse I ve ever heard. He made a pathetic attempt to explain his failure. 2) if someone or something looks or sounds pathetic, you feel sympathy …

    English dictionary

  • 16pathetic — adjective Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French pathetique, from Late Latin patheticus, from Greek pathētikos capable of feeling, pathetic, from paschein (aorist pathein) to experience, suffer more at pathos Date: 1598 1. having a …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 17pathetic — pathetically, adv. patheticalness, n. /peuh thet ik/ adj. 1. causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, sorrow, etc.; pitiful; pitiable: a pathetic letter; a pathetic sight. 2. affecting or moving the feelings. 3. pertaining to or caused by… …

    Universalium

  • 18pathetic — pa•thet•ic [[t]pəˈθɛt ɪk[/t]] alsopa•thet′i•cal adj. 1) causing or evoking pity, either sympathetically or contemptibly; pitiful: a pathetic sight; a pathetic return on our investment[/ex] 2) sad; sorrowful; mournful: a pathetic tone of… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 19pathetic — adjective /pəˈθɛtɪk/ a) Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion. The old man’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart. b) Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable …

    Wiktionary

  • 20pathetic — adjective 1) a pathetic groan Syn: pitiful, pitiable, piteous, moving, touching, poignant, plaintive, distressing, upsetting, heartbreaking, heart rending, harrowing, wretched, forlorn See note at …

    Thesaurus of popular words