as in merciful
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Dissimilar Words
as in loving
to have sympathy for
I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pitying
Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
The mother took him in, pitying his orphan status and appreciating his straightforward manners, neither servile nor presumptuous, but respectful and unembarrassed and warm.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pitying
Adjective
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These changes would ensure a more merciful society, one that pardons in the name not of a sovereign president, but of the people.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Although Ake wants to be merciful, Anisha aided a crime that resulted in the death of a Federation officer.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hašek is athletic royalty in the small, hockey-loving country in central Europe.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Volkswagen’s The Force, 2011 Just try to resist smiling while watching this adorable Volkswagen commercial, which combines youthful ambition and some loving sleight of hand.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Our selection, Stained Glass, is a very showy and weather-tolerant variety bred in England.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
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Part of the Kordes Sunbelt heat-tolerant series, this shrub rose is compact and disease resistant.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Was sympathetic blood magic involved in Amy Madigan casting a spell over the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild?—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
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Both sides believed that any sympathetic act toward the enemy would represent an insult to their own soldiers.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That’s why understanding how carbon monoxide detectors work is essential for protecting your household.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Jan. 2026
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Chastain, who is the lead star and an executive producer of the series, was not especially understanding.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, be patient during intense discussions with one of your kids or a romantic partner.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
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Turkey has long been a leading destination for cosmetic surgery, and demand has been on the rise, attracting an international patient base from Europe, North America, and beyond.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In addition, Tucker claims MSU adopted a much lighter and more forgiving touch with two white coaches, football coach Mark Dantonio and basketball coach Tom Izzo, when they and their programs were accused of wrongdoing.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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This recipe is also highly forgiving; feel free to add your favorite veggies for extra color.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pitying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pitying. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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