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Synonyms for pathetic

Grammar : Adj
Spell : puh-thet-ik
Phonetic Transcription : pəˈθɛt ɪk

Top 10 synonyms for pathetic
Other synonyms for the word pathetic

Définition of pathetic

Origin :
  • 1590s, "affecting the emotions, exciting the passions," from Middle French pathétique "moving, stirring, affecting" (16c.), from Late Latin patheticus, from Greek pathetikos "subject to feeling, sensitive, capable of emotion," from pathetos "liable to suffer," verbal adjective of pathein "to suffer" (see pathos). Meaning "arousing pity, pitiful" is first recorded 1737. Colloquial sense of "so miserable as to be ridiculous" is attested from 1937. Related: Pathetical (1570s); pathetically. Pathetic fallacy (1856, first used by Ruskin) is the attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects.
  • adj sad, affecting
Example sentences :
  • The fate of Owthorne, a village once existing not far from Withernsea, is pathetic.
  • Extract from : « Yorkshire Painted And Described » by Gordon Home
  • Her fingers were stiff, but so was her will: the way she stuck to her work was pathetic.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • You must have your soup, and (I do not mean to be pathetic) what is soup without salt?
  • Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 14, 1870 » by Various
  • The father looked at Mary with a reproach that was pathetic.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • There was a pathetic pleading in the dulled eyes with which he regarded the Inspector.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • But the gentle, pathetic character of Arthur is all Shakespeare's.
  • Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
  • "Hamlet" is a drama of pathetic weakness, strengthened by a drama of revenge and jealousy.
  • Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
  • In a pathetic sort of way, she mothered Christine in lieu of her own daughter.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • It gave him a curious appearance of making a pathetic appeal to the wind-shield.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • You see, madam—it's a pathetic thing to say, but really I have had no home life.
  • Extract from : « In the Midst of Alarms » by Robert Barr

Antonyms for pathetic

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019