Dictionary

pathetic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /pəˈθɛtɪk/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek παθητικός (pathētikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from παθητός (pathētós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from πάσχω (páskhō, “to suffer”). By surface analysis, path- + -etic.

Meanings

1. Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
   • We have now arrived at one of the most pathetic and glorious events in the history of Israel, one which sanctifies the Lamanite race with the powers of martyrdom, and, by the blood of the victims, washes its garments white from many a former sin. 1883, George Reynolds, “History of the Book of Mormon: Contents of the Records, II,”, in Contributor:
   • The child’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.
   • [H]e was led away to a private sanitarium for mental disease, while in the newspapers appeared pathetic accounts of his mental breakdown and of the saintliness of his character. 1908 February 19, Jack London, “The Bishop”, in The Iron Heel, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC, page 188:
   • There was no hospital, or any accommodation for the sick men. Each mate nursed his fellow, and some strikingly pathetic touches of devotion were shown here and there amongst them. 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 150:
   • She held his hand in one of hers, but she too was dozing, and the two made a pretty, or rather a pathetic, picture. 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
2. Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
   • Look, I-I hate to sound like Billy Baldwin’s agent, but you can’t just copy everything that ALEC does! It’s pathetic!” 2014 November 2, Tim Carvell [et al.], “State Legislatures and ALEC”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 1, episode 23, John Oliver (actor), Warner Bros. Television, via HBO:
   • You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic.
   • Well you'd better think of something because middle-aged tramps aren't cute, they're pathetic. 2005, In Her Shoes:
   • You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic.
3. (obsolete) Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
   • On a certain Good Friday, in what year we are not told, an especially moving and pathetic sermon was preached in the Cathedral by Father John Texeda, upon the sufferings of our Lord. 1894, A. M. Clarke, The Life of Saint Francis Borgia, page 95:
4. Trochlear.

Forms

Deriveds

hyperpathetic · nonpathetic · pathetic fallacy · un-pathetic · pathetic nerve · patheticness · pathetically · patheticism · telepathetic · pathetics

Relateds

pathos · apathetic

Synonyms

unsophisticated · apoplectic · irritated · despicable · ludicrous · cranky · hopping mad · pitiful · butthurt · roynish · pathetic · slimy · reptile · execrable · choical · shabby · hylic · fuming · scummy · mad as a bear with a sore head · shameful · ruthful · mad · scald · pissass · blameworthy · annoyed · ired · slavish · cringing · hot · abject · rueful · zowerswopped · splenetic · ugly · raging · hylical · ridiculous · weak · ignominious · dishonorable · sorry · ill-natured · wrathful · piteous · seething · furibund · scurvy · berserk · wretched · compassionate · unworthy · plebeian · carrion · deplorable · mad · sleazy · wroth · waxy · up on one's ear · grim · snivelly · uncool · base · sad · shit · groveling · vexed · shameful · despisable · punk · degraded · low · boiling mad · disdainable · reptitious · outrageous · p'd off · discreditable · mean · poor · ireful · miserable · reprehensible · disgraceful · sorry-ass · angry · pitisome · fury · pissed · ignoble · unwashed · incensed · vile · contemptible · trashy · pissed off · blood-boiling · pitiable · pathetic · livid · upset · pitiable · pitiful · derisible · spitting chips · ready to be tied · disgraceful · offended · vulgar · pissy · paltry · screwfaced · pitiful · enraged · frustrated · damnable · choleric · reprehensive · pathetic · agitated · seething · beggarly · loathsome · disreputable · mean-spirited · glimflashy · sore · dirty · little mad · wretched · big mad · obscene · lame · infuriated · cheesed off · putrid · uncommendable · dishonorable · worthless · cross · irate · inglorious · laughable · unmentionable · scornworthy · pathetisad · miffed · pathetisad · fit to be tied · risible · dedecorous · deridable · steaming · pitiable · scabbed · bad-tempered · lousy · filthy · sordid · reptilian · furious · cheap · wode

Translations (95)

de mitleiderregend (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · nn patetisk (arousing scorn or contempt) · el συγκινητικός (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · tr dokunaklı (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · nl zielig (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · cs trapný (arousing scorn or contempt) · ka ამაღელვებელი (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · la miserabilis (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · id payah (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · fr lamentable (arousing scorn or contempt) · ru душераздира́ющий (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · bg трогателен (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · be убо́гі (arousing scorn or contempt) · pl żałosny (arousing scorn or contempt) · el αξιολύπητος (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · nl meelijwekkend (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · nb patetisk (arousing scorn or contempt) · sl ganljiv (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · de bemitleidenswert (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · hu szánalmas (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · uk жа́лісний (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · it meschino (arousing scorn or contempt) · ca patètic (arousing scorn or contempt) · af pateties (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · pl żałosny (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · et haletsusväärne (arousing scorn or contempt) · sv patetisk (arousing scorn or contempt) · ru жа́лкий (arousing scorn or contempt) · el θλιβερός (arousing scorn or contempt) · it penoso (arousing scorn or contempt) · he פתטי (arousing scorn or contempt) · uk патети́чний (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · cs ubohý (arousing scorn or contempt) · el παθητικός (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · it patetico (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ro disperat (arousing scorn or contempt) · nl deerniswekkend (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · pt patético (arousing scorn or contempt) · bg жалък (arousing scorn or contempt) · ro emoționant (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · fi säälittävä (arousing scorn or contempt) · da medynkvækkende (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · hu szánalmas (arousing scorn or contempt) · et liigutav (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · es penoso (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ru убо́гий (arousing scorn or contempt) · tr acıklı (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ru патети́ческий (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · es patético (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · fa رقتانگیز (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ja 哀れな (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · da sørgelig (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · be жа́ласны (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · la flēbilis (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · es patético (arousing scorn or contempt) · ko 한심하다 (arousing scorn or contempt) · fr minable (arousing scorn or contempt) · hi दयनीय (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · cs dojemný (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · cs žalostný (arousing scorn or contempt) · el κακόμοιρος (arousing scorn or contempt) · el οικτρός (arousing scorn or contempt) · pt patético (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · nl zielig (arousing scorn or contempt) · id payah (arousing scorn or contempt) · da ynkelig (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · mk жа́лосен (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · da patetisk (arousing scorn or contempt) · ca commovedor (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ja 情けない (arousing scorn or contempt) · de jämmerlich (arousing scorn or contempt) · de rührend (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · th น่าสงสาร (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ja 痛ましい (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · fi säälittävä (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · bg прочувствен (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · sl pomilovanja vreden (arousing scorn or contempt) · ka პათეტიკური (arousing scorn or contempt) · mk жа́лен (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · es penoso (arousing scorn or contempt) · de erbärmlich (arousing scorn or contempt) · ja かわいそうな (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · ro patetic (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · cmn 可笑 (arousing scorn or contempt) · th น่าสมเพช (arousing scorn or contempt) · cmn 可憐 /可怜 (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · yi פּאַטעטיש (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · mk бе́ден (arousing scorn or contempt) · uk убо́гий (arousing scorn or contempt) · nl sneu (arousing scorn or contempt) · el άθλιος (arousing scorn or contempt) · de peinlich (arousing scorn or contempt) · ru жа́лостный (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion) · da ynkelig (arousing scorn or contempt) · fr pathétique (arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion)