pity 1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-tē How to pronounce pity (audio)
Definition of pitynext
1
as in shame
a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sympathy
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune a woman of boundless pity who tried to care for every abandoned animal she found

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pity

2 of 2

verb

as in to love
to have sympathy for I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pity are commiseration, compassion, condolence, and sympathy. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use commiseration instead of pity?

The words commiseration and pity can be used in similar contexts, but commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

When can compassion be used instead of pity?

While in some cases nearly identical to pity, compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

When might condolence be a better fit than pity?

The synonyms condolence and pity are sometimes interchangeable, but condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

When could sympathy be used to replace pity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and pity are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pity
Noun
Decades of Palestinian barbarism have eroded the pity reserves of a majority of the Israeli people. —Uri Kurlianchik, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025 His is a kind of pathetic that inspires neither scorn nor pity, but a universal, sorrowful connection — his yearning for a different face is a consideration of what makes a human being legible and thus able to be understood, known, even loved. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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 In particular, pity the pollster who has to field a survey in Oklahoma, Wyoming or Hawaii. —Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for pity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pity
  1. shame
  2. sympathy
  3. love
  4. kindness
  5. compassion
  6. heart
  7. understand
Noun
  • The production has a lot of recorded sound and this has its issues; some of the language therein is inaudible, which is a shame, albeit something easily corrected.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
  • First off, there’s no shame in losing your bibliophilic gusto at some point.
    — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Much like filmmaking, which is perhaps why the movie finds sympathy in a tale of concession and economic exploitation.
    — Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Trump certainly lacks admiration for the liberal order’s achievements and sympathy for its basic ethos.
    — HAL BRANDS, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of sympathy
Verb
  • Chard noted that in Hollywood, everyone loves a good comeback story.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Scorsese sent that joke video after reading the script and loving the idea.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of love
Noun
  • Beyond baseball, Art was known for his kindness, humor, and deep appreciation for the people around him.
    — Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 9 Mar. 2025
  • And for Katelyn, the internet's kindness has arrived exactly at the right time.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Read the full Pisces Daily Horoscope Aries (March 21 - April 19) Driven by compassion?
    — USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
  • And everything with her is effortless compassion and empathy.
    — C. R. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of compassion
Noun
  • At heart, the brand messaging is consistent: Individuals who work hard and win reward themselves with a Rolex.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025
  • These basic concepts of freedom are at the very heart of Hamilton.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of heart
Verb
  • The real stories of the game and its people from someone who lives it and understands it better than any member of the media who has never played the game ever could.
    — Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Plus, the startup is also building out its use of AI to understand complex datasets and more.
    — Zoya Hasan, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of understand

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Cite this Entry

“Pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pity. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pity

Nglish: Translation of pity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pity

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