Definition of "pathetic" [pa•thet•ic]

• Arousing or capable of arousing sympathetic sadness and compassion: "The old, rather shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic” ( John Galsworthy). (adjective)
• Arousing or capable of arousing scornful pity. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I mean, the security guard who actually finally spotted her, heard what he called a pathetic little whimper."
• "What's pathetic is that so many well-meaning young Portlanders buy his line of hype."
• "I'd call it pathetic, but it's probably better to reserve that term for Anita Kumar's behavior in the press room at the most recent Virginia Governor's debate ..."