pity

1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-tē 

plural pities

1

a

: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy

b

: capacity to feel pity

2

: something to be regretted

it's a pity you can't go

pity

2 of 2

verb

pitied; pitying

transitive verb

: to feel pity for

intransitive verb

: to feel pity

Synonyms

Noun

• crime
• disgrace
• shame
• sin

Verb

• ache (for)
• bleed (for)
• commiserate (with)
• compassionate
• condole (with)
• feel (for)
• sympathize (with)
• yearn (over)

Choose the Right Synonym for pity

pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, sympathy mean the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another.

pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.

felt pity for the captives

compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy

in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

Examples of pity in a Sentence

Noun

She has had a hard life and deserves your pity.

I felt deep pity for the lost dog.

He didn't live to see his daughter grow up, and that's a pity.

Verb

I pity anyone who has to work at that place.

I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Solomon doesn’t feel the slightest pity for Abe, who is sure to get ruined by the imminent bubble burst. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024

As played by Mikey Madison (more on her in a moment), Ani doesn’t invite pity or envy. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2024

Verb

Now the wife, who is 70 and a devotee of spas and facial rejuvenation, pities her fat husband. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Nov. 2024

And Oz, who told Eve that Sofia was to be pitied and avoided, helped cover it up so Carmine could keep killing women — leaving Sofia to rot in Arkham. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pite, from Anglo-French pité, from Latin pietat-, pietas piety, pity, from pius pious

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing pity

• have mercy/pity
• more's the pity
• self-pity
• take pity on

Kids Definition

pity

1 of 2 noun

ˈpit-ē 

plural pities

1

: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy : compassion

2

: something to be regretted

it's a pity you can't go

pity

2 of 2 verb

pitied; pitying

: to feel pity for