pathetic

adj 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"; "couldn't rescue the poor fellow"; "his

poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life" [syn: {hapless},

{miserable}, {misfortunate}, {piteous}, {pitiable}, {pitiful},

{poor}, {wretched}]

2: inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were

pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful

exhibition of cowardice" [syn: {pitiable}, {pitiful}]

3: inspiring scornful pity; "how silly an ardent and

unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on

in years"- Dashiell Hammett [syn: {ridiculous}, {silly}]