pitiful
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Hoffman’s Desdemona has a pronounced, wide-eyed girlishness that makes her confusion at her husband’s suspicions and growing antagonism pitiful to watch.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
Now, not even 25 years later, the United States Department of Agriculture was forecasting a pitiful 12 million boxes of oranges, the least in more than 100 years, the worst year since last.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
"When I see it, it's quite pitiful," said Yin, wiping away a tear.
From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026
"Such a pitiful number of films from the past year have been made by women."
From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025
"Very poor. You can't do it. That's all. You don't understand irony. You have no pity. Say something pitiful."
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
Vocabulary lists containing pitiful
List 12
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Crash
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
