Pity — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈpi-tē/

Meaning & Definition of Pity

Pity (noun)

  1. sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy
  2. capacity to feel pity
  3. something to be regretted

Pity (verb)

  1. to feel pity for
  2. to feel pity

Pity (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a regrettable or blameworthy act

    "it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden"

    similar: crime, disgrace, shame, sin
    related: outrage, scandal

  2. 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"

    similar: bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, heart, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartedness
    related: feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity, affection, love, regard, affinity, empathy, rapport, altruism, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, generosity, goodwill, humaneness, humanism, humanitarianism, philanthropy
    opposite: coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness, pitilessness
    near: callousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern, cruelty, harshness, animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility

Pity (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have sympathy for

    "I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather"

    similar: ache (for), bleed (for), commiserate (with), compassionate, condole (with), feel (for), sympathize (with), yearn (over)
    related: care (for), grieve (for), sorrow (for), love, empathize (with), identify (with), tolerate, understand
    near: disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, dislike, hate, scorn

Related Entry: Self-pity (noun)

Self-pity is a different word from Pity. The synonyms below are for self-pity, not for pity.

  1. a feeling of pity for yourself because you believe you have suffered more than is fair or reasonable

    "He was wallowing in self-pity."

    "She spoke without a trace of self-pity."

    similar: melancholia, blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sadness, sorrowfulness, unhappiness, anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, discouragement, disheartenment, moodiness, despair, desperation, hopelessness, self-despair, boredom, ennui, tedium, dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity, regret, rue
    opposite: gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hopefulness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification, bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pity

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pity:

crime, disgrace, shame, sin, bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling, good-heartedness, heart, humanity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, largeheartedness, mercy, ruth, softheartedness, sympathy, warmheartedness, ache (for), bleed (for), commiserate (with), compassionate, condole (with), feel (for), sympathize (with), yearn (over)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pity

Words with the opposite meaning of Pity:

coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness, pitilessness

Related Words for Pity

outrage, scandal, feelings, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitivity, affection, love, regard, affinity, empathy, rapport, altruism, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, generosity, goodwill, humaneness, humanism, humanitarianism, philanthropy, care (for), grieve (for), sorrow (for), empathize (with), identify (with), tolerate, understand

Near Antonyms of Pity

callousness, coldness, disinterest, indifference, unconcern, cruelty, harshness, animosity, antipathy, dislike, hatred, hostility, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, hate, scorn

Word Forms of Pity

Inflections: pities, pitied, pitying

Origin & Etymology of Pity

Middle English pite, from Anglo-French pité, from Latin pietat-, pietas piety, pity, from pius pious

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pity

Words & Phrases Containing Pity

self-pity, more's the pity, take pity on, have mercy/pity

Frequently Asked Questions about Pity

What does "Pity" mean?

"Pity" means sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pity"?

Other words for "Pity" include crime, disgrace, shame, sin, bigheartedness, charity, commiseration and compassion. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pity" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pity"?

There are 58 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pity". Common alternatives include crime, disgrace, shame, sin, bigheartedness, charity, commiseration, compassion, feeling and good-heartedness.

What is the opposite of "Pity"?

Antonyms of "Pity" include coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness and pitilessness. Near antonyms include callousness, coldness, disinterest and indifference.

How do you use "Pity" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pity" in a sentence: "it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden"; "a woman of boundless pity who tried to care for every abandoned animal she found"; "I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather".

Is "Pity" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pity" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Pity" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Pity" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Pity"?

"Pity" is pronounced /ˈpi-tē/.