Pathetically
adverb
In a way that makes you feel pity or sadness, because of being very weak, bad, or unsuccessful.
He was lying there pathetically, unable to move.
Often appears as...
- petition pathetically
- weep pathetically
Usage tips
Disapproving
adverb
In a way that makes you feel contempt because of being not at all effective, useless.
We lost the game because of a pathetically poor performance.
Often appears as...
- pathetically inadequate
- pathetically small
Usage tips
Disapproving
adverb
In a way that makes you feel pity or sadness, because of being very weak, bad, or unsuccessful.
He was lying there pathetically, unable to move.
Often appears as...
- petition pathetically
- weep pathetically
Usage tips
Disapproving
adverb
In a way that makes you feel contempt because of being not at all effective, useless.
We lost the game because of a pathetically poor performance.
Often appears as...
- pathetically inadequate
- pathetically small
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Trigger
Use 'pathetically' to express strong empathy or sadness for someone or something very weak or unsuccessful.
Despite his efforts, he failed pathetically.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Description
'Pathetically' conveys a negative judgment, showing that something is not just bad, but dishearteningly so.
The team's skills were pathetically below the standard.
Pro Tip 3/3Describing Failure
Use it when describing something that fails to such an extent it evokes pity or sadness.
He pathetically missed every question on the quiz.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Trigger
Use 'pathetically' to express strong empathy or sadness for someone or something very weak or unsuccessful.
Despite his efforts, he failed pathetically.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Description
'Pathetically' conveys a negative judgment, showing that something is not just bad, but dishearteningly so.
The team's skills were pathetically below the standard.
Pro Tip 3/3Describing Failure
Use it when describing something that fails to such an extent it evokes pity or sadness.
He pathetically missed every question on the quiz.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion Trigger
Use 'pathetically' to express strong empathy or sadness for someone or something very weak or unsuccessful.
Despite his efforts, he failed pathetically.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Description
'Pathetically' conveys a negative judgment, showing that something is not just bad, but dishearteningly so.
The team's skills were pathetically below the standard.
Pro Tip 3/3Describing Failure
Use it when describing something that fails to such an extent it evokes pity or sadness.
He pathetically missed every question on the quiz.
Never forget "Pathetically"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Life lessons from an ad...
which is pathetically grateful for anything you give it. Nowadays, the user is actually involved. This is actually what's called, in the digital world, "user-generated content." Although it's called agriculture in the world of food. This is actually called a mash-up,
Video examples
Are you challenging...
or the terrain going up into the clouds and then descending at 40 miles an hour it's equally as hard as the distance now humans we are pathetically inefficient when it comes to all animals on the planet from getting from one point to
Video examples
Life lessons from an ad...
which is pathetically grateful for anything you give it. Nowadays, the user is actually involved. This is actually what's called, in the digital world, "user-generated content." Although it's called agriculture in the world of food. This is actually called a mash-up,
Video examples
Are you challenging...
or the terrain going up into the clouds and then descending at 40 miles an hour it's equally as hard as the distance now humans we are pathetically inefficient when it comes to all animals on the planet from getting from one point to
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Greg Davies
British Comedian
I would spend a lot of time setting up an accident scene where it appeared that I had seriously hurt myself - hedge-cutter, ketchup, that sort of thing. When my sister happened upon the scene of horror, I would lift my head and pathetically plead for her to 'get Mum'.
Quote examples
Anita Bryant
American Singer
While continuing to speak out and work against those laws that sanction homosexuality, we also shall continue to seek help and change for homosexuals themselves, whose sad and sick values belie the word 'gay' which they pathetically use to cover their unhappy lives.
Quote examples
Arthur Smith
English Comedian
I myself am pathetically impressed when I meet writers of very long novels. How can they spend so many hundreds of hours at the miserable, lonely pastime of creating fiction?
Quote examples
Bob Hawke
Australian Statesman
The level of journalism in this country is just so pathetically poor, and I've, in a sense, gone over the top of them, which they don't like.
Quote examples
Tucker Carlson
American Journalist
I'm so pathetically eager for people to love D.C. It's so sad. It's like I work for the chamber of commerce or something.
Quote examples
Trinny Woodall
English Designer
Even my basic, basic wardrobe is still pathetically colour coordinated. It just is. That is just me.
Quote examples
Cat Deeley
English Celebrity
I can't lie... My face always gives me away. I'm also pathetically bad at poker!
Quote examples
Mitch Kapor
American Businessman
Lotus's efforts around the Mac were pathetically unsuccessful, which is sad.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
War is very sad and small life is pathetically fragile at times.
Quote examples
Caitlin Moran
British Journalist
I am pathetically law-abiding.
Quote examples
Greg Davies
British Comedian
I would spend a lot of time setting up an accident scene where it appeared that I had seriously hurt myself - hedge-cutter, ketchup, that sort of thing. When my sister happened upon the scene of horror, I would lift my head and pathetically plead for her to 'get Mum'.
Quote examples
Anita Bryant
American Singer
While continuing to speak out and work against those laws that sanction homosexuality, we also shall continue to seek help and change for homosexuals themselves, whose sad and sick values belie the word 'gay' which they pathetically use to cover their unhappy lives.
Quote examples
Arthur Smith
English Comedian
I myself am pathetically impressed when I meet writers of very long novels. How can they spend so many hundreds of hours at the miserable, lonely pastime of creating fiction?
Quote examples
Bob Hawke
Australian Statesman
The level of journalism in this country is just so pathetically poor, and I've, in a sense, gone over the top of them, which they don't like.
Quote examples
Tucker Carlson
American Journalist
I'm so pathetically eager for people to love D.C. It's so sad. It's like I work for the chamber of commerce or something.
Quote examples
Trinny Woodall
English Designer
Even my basic, basic wardrobe is still pathetically colour coordinated. It just is. That is just me.
Quote examples
Cat Deeley
English Celebrity
I can't lie... My face always gives me away. I'm also pathetically bad at poker!
Quote examples
Mitch Kapor
American Businessman
Lotus's efforts around the Mac were pathetically unsuccessful, which is sad.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
War is very sad and small life is pathetically fragile at times.
Quote examples
Caitlin Moran
British Journalist
I am pathetically law-abiding.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension