# pathetic

/pəˈθɛtɪk/ (US) · /pɐθˈɛtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pathetic
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. weak or inadequate

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

so weak, small, or bad that it is embarrassing or annoying.

For teachers: arousing scorn or contempt through miserable inadequacy or lack of effort.

- The team gave a pathetic performance and lost the game by five goals.
- The company's pathetic attempt to justify the price hike only served to further alienate its long-term customer base.

Usage: Often used as a strong insult to describe an excuse, an effort, or a person's character.

### 2. causing pity

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel deep sadness or pity.

For teachers: arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; evocative of pathos.

- The lost kitten looked pathetic shivering in the cold rain.
- The witness gave a pathetic account of the hardships faced by the refugees during the winter months.

Teaching tip: While this sense is the original meaning, be aware that modern speakers often use 'pathetic' to mean 'useless' or 'contemptible' instead.

### 3. anatomy

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a technical word for a specific nerve or muscle in the eye.

For teachers: relating to the trochlear nerve or the superior oblique muscle of the eye.

- The doctor checked the pathetic nerve to see if the patient's eye could move correctly.
- Damage to the pathetic nerve can result in vertical diplopia, significantly affecting the patient's ability to look downward and inward.

## Examples

- The team gave a pathetic performance and lost by twenty points.
- He made a pathetic attempt to apologize, but his excuses were so weak that nobody believed him.
- The sight of the abandoned, shivering kitten was truly pathetic, yet it was the owner's pathetic lack of responsibility that truly angered the neighbors.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.