pathetic

The definition of pathetic is someone or something that brings or is capable of bringing about feelings of pity or sorrow.

(adjective)

An example of pathetic is a dog with mange.
An example of pathetic is a Broadway actor forgetting their lines while on stage.

See pathetic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

expressing, arousing, or intended to arouse pity, sorrow, sympathy, or compassion; pitiful
pitifully unsuccessful, ineffective, etc.: a pathetic performance
of the emotions

Origin: LL patheticus < Gr pathētikos, akin to pathos, suffering, pathos

Related Forms:

See pathetic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Arousing or capable of arousing sympathetic sadness and compassion: “The old, rather shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic” (John Galsworthy).
Arousing or capable of arousing scornful pity.

Origin:

Origin: French pathétique

Origin: , from Late Latin pathēticus

Origin: , from Greek pathētikos, sensitive

Origin: , from pathētos, liable to suffer

Origin: , from pathos, suffering; see k^went(h)- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: