piteous

/'pitiəs/
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Thân thiện
piteous

The child let out a piteous cry when she dropped her ice cream.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Deserving or arousing pity; evoking feelings of compassion or sorrow: Describes something or someone that is so unfortunate, sad, or in such a bad condition that it makes others feel deep sympathy and sorrow.
Usage

The adjective "piteous" is used to describe a situation, sound, appearance, or person that strongly elicits feelings of pity and compassion from an observer. It often implies a sense of helplessness or profound suffering. It is a formal and somewhat literary word.

Examples
  • The piteous cries of the injured animal could be heard throughout the forest.
  • She told a piteous story of loss and hardship.
  • He gave her a piteous look, hoping for some understanding.
  • The refugees' piteous condition moved the aid workers to immediate action.
Advanced Usage
  • "piteous to see/hear": A common construction emphasizing the sensory impact that evokes pity.
    • The state of the orphaned children was piteous to see.
  • Used in formal or literary contexts to convey deep pathos.
    • The playwright filled the scene with piteous lamentations.
Variants and Related Words
  • Pitiable (adj): Deserving pity, often with a connotation of being contemptible or insignificant.
  • Pitiful (adj): 1) Deserving or arousing pity. 2) So inadequate or small as to be contemptible.
  • Pity (n): The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering of others.
  • Piteously (adv): In a manner that arouses pity.
    • The child wept piteously.
Synonyms
  • Pathetic: Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness.
  • Heart-rending: Causing great sadness or distress.
  • Plaintive: (Especially of a sound) sounding sad and mournful.
  • Wretched: In a very unhappy or unfortunate state.
Antonyms
  • Cheerful
  • Fortunate
  • Happy
  • Joyful
Notes on Meaning

"Piteous" specifically focuses on the capacity to evoke a sympathetic emotional response (pity) in others. It is closely related to "pitiful" and "pitiable," but is generally the most literary and intense of the three, with the strongest emphasis on the elicitation of compassion rather than any judgment of worth or adequacy.

piteous

The child let out a piteous cry when she dropped her ice cream.

Adjective
  1. deserving or inciting pity
    • a hapless victim
    • miserable victims of war
    • the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic- Galsworthy
    • piteous appeals for help
    • pitiable homeless children
    • a pitiful fate
    • Oh, you poor thing
    • his poor distorted limbs
    • a wretched life

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