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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Epictetus’s and Nietzsche’s worries about pity or compassion carry over to empathy. —Colin Marshall, The Conversation, 22 May 2025 Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope Leo (July 23 - August 22) Throwing a pity party? —Usa Today, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
In this type of thinking, the desire to be alone is seen as unnatural and unhealthy, something to be pitied or feared rather than valued or encouraged. —Virginia Thomas, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025 Often, the authors are wrestling with grief, trauma or loss, and find solace in the company of an animal who isn’t forced to be their companion, and doesn’t pity or judge them. —Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025 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
  • That means having the courage to say what needs to be said—without blame, without shame and always with the intention to help.
    — Jaide Massin, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • But when the nights are long and your world has shattered, just having something to talk to without shame or fear, can be the difference between falling apart and holding on.
    — Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Infused with equal parts outrage and sympathy, the song is a must-listen in these trying times.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • There was little sympathy for the congressman’s words among the 100 or so protesters who turned out for the news conference held at the bottom of the building’s west steps.
    — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
Definition of sympathy
Verb
  • The teen would love a family that shows up to cheer him on at all his events.
    — The Star, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025
  • Everyone who tried this recipe loved the balance of the creamy ice cream, juicy strawberries, and slightly bitter wine sauce.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
Definition of love
Noun
  • Critically, the Predator’s language is translated so that the three warriors can understand their captors, but that kindness does not extend to letting the prisoners understand each other.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 June 2025
  • But in the fleet, pacey manner of the editing, toggling between private and public moments with highlight-reel efficiency, the film is a stirring glimpse of top-down kindness as a winning leadership style.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Each of us can use the next six months working on our own heart, praying for a heart that is filled with compassion and love.
    — Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Balancing business needs with compassion for people is critical to preserving trust and morale through a difficult transition, for both employees who are retained and also for those impacted by layoffs.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of compassion
Noun
  • The festival’s heart lies in the Cour d’honneur of the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its original stage.
    — Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Potential symptoms include insomnia, muscle cramps, constipation, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness, numbness, tingling, personality changes and heart arrhythmias, experts say.
    — Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Definition of heart
Verb
  • These locations offered some refuge from legal risk at a time when the world had yet to understand or accept digital assets.
    — Irina Heaver, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • But Greene, a serial entrepreneur, says there’s been a missing piece — advanced search that can understand queries that go well beyond the basics of a title or actor.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 June 2025
Definition of understand

Browse Nearby Words

pit vipers
pity
pitying
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Cite this Entry

“Pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pity. Accessed 17 Jun. 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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