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# pathetic

adjective (pathetic, more pathetic)

«pathetic» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, rude) Very weak, useless or poor; not good enough: «That was a pathetic excuse.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#m1)
2. Making you feel pity and sadness: a pathetic little kitten in the rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday talk children and adults use it as an insult (rude) for something feeble. In older stories it means sad and pitiful. Phrases: a pathetic excuse, pathetic attempt.

### Examples

- That's a pathetic excuse for not doing your homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x1)
- Our team was pathetic today; we lost ten-nil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x2)
- Stop being pathetic and help me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x3)
- The lost puppy gave a pathetic whimper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x4)
- The tiny bird looked pathetic in the snow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x5)
- Calling someone pathetic is unkind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/#x6)

### Note

Adverb: pathetically. Used about a person it is insulting; be careful. The old meaning (causing pity) is kinder. Related noun: pathos.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pathetic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pathetic/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pathetic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pathetic.html) on Mova free.