Definition of "pitiful" []

• Inspiring or deserving pity. (adjective)
• Arousing contemptuous pity, as through ineptitude or inadequacy. See Synonyms at pathetic. (adjective)
• Archaic Filled with pity or compassion. (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.

• "Consider This: Not only is this name hard to spell and pronounce, but it also seems to conjure up the word pitiful."
• "Lipton looked across at Conroy, his expression pitiful."
• "A thousand dogs, in pitiful chorus, wailed their ancient wrongs and claimed mercy from the unheeding stars."