Adjective: pathetic pu'the-tik
- Deserving or inciting pity
"the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic";
- hapless, miserable, misfortunate, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched
- Inspiring mixed contempt and pity
"their efforts were pathetic";
- pitiable, pitiful
- Inspiring scornful pity
"how pathetic an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years";
- ridiculous, silly
- Lacking in power or forcefulness
"a pathetic ruler";
- ineffective, ineffectual, unable, effete, useless [informal], wet [Brit, informal]
See also: contemptible, impotent, undignified, unfortunate
Encyclopedia: Pathetic