Synonyms of pathetic
120 similar words
Another word for pathetic is poor. Other synonyms of pathetic are mean, cheap, sorry, wretched and despicable.
Synonyms and similar words for pathetic
adjectiveArousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
- pathetisadPathetic: arousing scornful pity or contempt.
- pitiableThat deserves, evokes or can be given pity; pitiful.
- pitiful
- wretchedOf an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
- piteousProvoking pity, compassion, or sympathy.
- pitisomeCharacterised or marked by pitifulness; piteous.
- sad slangPoor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor.
- poorOf low quality.
- ruefulInspiring pity or compassion.
- ruthfulCausing pity; piteous.
- snivellyPitiful; whining.
- sorry-ass slang, vulgarPitiful, worthless; utterly terrible or dire.
- compassionate obsoleteInviting or asking for pity.
adjectiveArousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
- disgraceful
- shameful
- dishonorable
- abject
- filthy
- baseMorally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
- beggarly
- blameworthyDeserving blame or censure; reprehensible.
- carrion figurativelyDisgusting, horrid, rotten.
- cheapOf poor quality.
- choicalSynonym of physical, material, or base.
- contemptibleDeserving contempt.
- cringingAct of one who cringes.
- damnable
- dedecorousDisgraceful; unbecoming.
- degraded
- deplorableTo be felt sorrow for; worthy of compassion; lamentable.
- deridableCapable of, or suitable for, being derided.
- derisibleDeserving derision (“treatment with disdain or contempt”).
- despicableFit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean.
- despisableWorthy to be despised.
- dirty
- discreditable
- disdainableAble to be disdained; subject to disdain.
- disreputableNot respectable, lacking repute; discreditable.
- execrable
- groveling
- hylicSynonym of physical, material, or base.
- hylicalSynonym of physical or material.
- ignoble
- ignominiousEspecially of a person: deserving of disgrace or dishonour; contemptible, despicable.
- ingloriousIgnominious; disgraceful.
- lame
- laughableWorthless; worthy of contempt or derision.
- loathsomeHighly offensive; abominable, sickening.
- lousyRemarkably bad; of poor quality.
- lowNot high in status, esteem, or rank, dignity, or quality. (Compare vulgar.).
- ludicrous
- meanLow in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
- mean-spiritedHaving a base, nasty, petty, or malevolent disposition; tawdry.
- miserableWretched; worthless; mean; contemptible.
- obscene
- outrageous
- paltry
- pissass vulgarWorthless, backward, undeveloped, nondescript, reprehensible, or small.
- plebeian
- punkBad, substandard.
- putrid
- reprehensibleDeserving of reprehension.
- reprehensiveReprehensible.
- reptile
- reptilianUnthinking, low, base, contemptible.
- ridiculous
- risible
- roynish
- scabbedVile; worthless.
- scornworthyWorthy of scorn.
- scummySleazy, worthless, no good.
- scurvyOf a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low.
- shabby
- shit vulgarOf poor quality; worthless.
- sleazyMarked by low quality; inferior; inadequate.
- slavish
- slimy
- sordid
- sorryPoor, pitifully sad or regrettable.
- trashyLike trash; having low quality and a perceived lack of depth, especially of books and films.
- ugly
- uncommendableNot commendable.
- uncoolNot in accord with the current fashion, standards, or mores of a particular group; not cool.
- unmentionableToo embarrassing or shocking to be discussed.
- unwashed
- unsophisticatedNot sophisticated; lacking sophistication.
- unworthyNot worthy; lacking value or merit; worthless.
- vile
- vulgar
- weak
- worthlessHaving no worth or use; without value.
- reptitious obsolete
- scald obsolete
adjectiveExpressing or showing anger; passionate.
- madAngry; annoyed.
- seething
- agitated
- angry
- annoyedTroubled, irritated by something unwanted or unliked (an annoyance); vexed.
- apoplectic
- bad-temperedOf or pertaining to bad temper; showing anger easily or customarily.
- berserk
- big madVery angry or irritated.
- blood-boilingExtremely angry; furious.
- boiling madExtremely angry; furious.
- butthurtOverly annoyed or bothered by a perceived insult or injustice; needlessly offended.
- cheesed offAnnoyed, upset, angry.
- cholericOf a person: having a tendency to become angry easily; bad-tempered, irritable; also, feeling or showing anger; angry...
- cranky
- cross
- enraged
- fit to be tiedVery agitated or distressed; also, very angry; enraged, furious.
- frustrated
- fumingVery angry.
- furibund formal, literaryHaving a propensity to be furious; choleric, irate.
- furious
- fury
- hot informal
- glimflashyAngry.
- hopping madExtremely angry; furious to the point of outburst.
- ill-natured
Meaning of pathetic
- adjective Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
- adjective Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
- adjective Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
pathetic in other languages
Questions about synonyms of pathetic
- What is another word for pathetic?
- Pathetic has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as poor, mean, cheap, sorry, wretched, despicable, pitiable and deplorable.
- What does pathetic mean?
- Pathetic means arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: pathetic (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of pathetic.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/pathetic. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.