pitiableness
State deserving compassion
The quality of deserving or arousing pity.
Pitiableness suggests a condition so wretched or unfortunate that it evokes compassion, though sometimes with a note of contempt: The pitiableness of his situation moved even his critics.
The word is rare; pitiful or pitiable usually suffice.
Extremely unhappy or unfortunate
- miserableWretchedly unhappy, dejected
- deplorableDeserving strong disapproval
- lamentableDeserving strong disapproval
- abjectUtterly hopeless or degraded
forlorn · hapless · desolate · dismal · woeful · helpless · hopeless · downtrodden
Deep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
melancholy · woe · despair · mourning · lamentation · suffering · dolor · desolation
Concern for others' distress
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- empathySharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- pitySympathy for misfortune
concern · tenderness · kindness · consolation · commiseration · solicitude · charity · benevolence
Pity-evoking quality
- poignancyPiercing emotional quality
- plaintivenessSorrowful, yearning quality
- mournfulnessQuality of deep grief
- heartrendingCausing overwhelming grief
affecting · touching · moving · stirring · doleful · elegiac · tearjerking · bittersweet
Lacking ability to cope
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- fragilityEase of breaking
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
frailty · exposure · susceptibility · precariousness · dependence · incapacity · feebleness · impotence
wretched
Extremely unhappy or unfortunate
- miserableWretchedly unhappy, dejected
- deplorableDeserving strong disapproval
- lamentableDeserving strong disapproval
abject · forlorn · hapless · desolate · dismal · woeful · helpless · hopeless · downtrodden · unfortunate
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
anguish · melancholy · woe · despair · mourning · lamentation · suffering · dolor · desolation · tears
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- empathySharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
pity · concern · tenderness · kindness · consolation · commiseration · solicitude · charity · benevolence · understanding
pathos
Pity-evoking quality
- poignancyPiercing emotional quality
- plaintivenessSorrowful, yearning quality
- mournfulnessQuality of deep grief
heartrending · affecting · touching · moving · stirring · doleful · elegiac · tearjerking · bittersweet · wistfulness
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- fragilityEase of breaking
powerlessness · frailty · exposure · susceptibility · precariousness · dependence · incapacity · feebleness · impotence · delicacy
pitiablenessenviability
Quality others covet
admirableness · admirability · impressiveness · magnificence · glory
pitiablenessblessedness
State of spiritual grace
fortunateness · admirableness · prosperity · felicity · good fortune
pitiful, pitiless, pities, pitied, pitiable, piteous, pitifully, piteously, unpitying