Definitions for pathetic
pəˈθɛt ɪkpa·thet·ic

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched(adj)

   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"

2. pathetic, pitiable, pitiful(adj)

   inspiring mixed contempt and pity

   "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice"

3. pathetic, ridiculous, silly(adj)

   inspiring scornful pity

   "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pathetic(Adjective)

   Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.

   The old man's pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man's heart.

   Etymology: From patheticus, from παθητικός, from παθητός, from παθείν.

2. pathetic(Adjective)

   Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.

   Etymology: From patheticus, from παθητικός, from παθητός, from παθείν.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Pathetic(adj)

   expressing or showing anger; passionate

   Etymology: [L. patheticus, Gr. paqhtiko`s, fr. paqei^n, pa`schein, to suffer: cf. F. pathtique. See Pathos.]

2. Pathetic(adj)

   affecting or moving the tender emotions, esp. pity or grief; full of pathos; as, a pathetic song or story

   Etymology: [L. patheticus, Gr. paqhtiko`s, fr. paqei^n, pa`schein, to suffer: cf. F. pathtique. See Pathos.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pathetic

   -al, pa-thet′ik, -al, adj. showing passion: affecting the tender emotions: causing pity, grief, or sorrow: touching: (anat.) trochlear.—adj. Pathemat′ic, pertaining to emotion.—adv. Pathet′ically.—ns. Pathet′icalness; Path′etism, animal magnetism; Path′etist, one who practises this.—The pathetic, the style or manner fitted to excite emotion. [Gr. pathētikos, subject to suffering.]

How to pronounce pathetic?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say pathetic in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pathetic in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pathetic in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of pathetic in a Sentence

1. Subodh Chandra:

   Eight days for gross negligence resulting in the death of a 12-year-old boy, how pathetic is that?

2. Donald Trump:

   It’s frankly outrageous and highly irresponsible for a left-wing blog … to drop highly salacious and flat-out false information on the Internet just days before he takes the oath of office, ... The fact that BuzzFeed and CNN made the decision to run with this unsubstantiated claim is a sad and pathetic attempt to get clicks.

3. Tom Hiddleston:

   When an ex appears so happy so quick, it often looks pathetic, she may as well say ‘I’ve never been happier.’.

4. Donald Trump:

   No one has ever achieved anything significant without a chorus of critics standing on the sideline saying why it can't be done, nothing is easier or more pathetic than being a critic.

5. John Kelly:

   This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administration's many successes.

Images & Illustrations of pathetic

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