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
This is a group of smart, resilient and cheerfully irreverent people who definitely don’t want your pity. —Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025 Suddenly sitting atop the industry leader, John, Junior regarded Fred Smith with a combination of amusement, disdain or pity. —Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
Which isn’t to suggest that we’re asked to pity him. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2025 Just thinking about the poor suckers who had to guard her in high school makes Fudd pity them. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 6 Apr. 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 is a shame, as many website builders these days offer image editors.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 July 2025
  • The woman immediately puts her hands over her eyes in apparent shame and turns away, while the man quickly drops down to get out of the camera’s view.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 July 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • This compared to 28 percent who had sympathy for the royals and 68 percent who had either not very much or none.
    — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
  • Finally, Trump Seems to Get Putin Then came this week’s weapons deal along with more sympathy for Ukraine and more praise for NATO and its leader.
    — Tom Nagorski, Time, 18 July 2025
Definition of sympathy
Verb
  • People on all sides of the political spectrum love it for different reasons.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 25 July 2025
  • The Marlins, in an ideal world, would love to keep him, but the business side of the game is likely going to dictate otherwise.
    — Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Definition of love
Noun
  • His 90 years are saturated with kindness, love and compassion… driven by a fearless, diamond-like wisdom that engages a deeply divided world.
    — Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 30 July 2025
  • Cole has known Hussein for about six years and has seen how Hussein's kindness, character and compassion has inspired countless people at the school.
    — Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Among those lessons is that working with young people — and earning their trust — requires patience and compassion.
    — Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
  • Above all, excellence is an ethic—a commitment to integrity, mastery and compassion.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Definition of compassion
Noun
  • Our son’s bed started just burning in the shape of a heart.
    — Katie Mannion, People.com, 28 July 2025
  • Warm, welcoming, and full of heart, Gracianna feels like visiting an old friend.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Definition of heart
Verb
  • His office looks at the business' activities to understand what will take place on site.
    — Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025
  • The tax world has always been a fascinating one – a mix of understanding personal needs of the taxpayers while navigating the ever-changing tax code that’s the result of political forces in the local and national economy.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 July 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 4 Aug. 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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