Meaning
pathetic, pitiful
- arousing pity or contempt due to inadequacy, weakness, or ridiculousness
- evoking sadness or tender emotion (literary/artistic sense)
In a sentence
Le sue scuse erano così deboli da sembrare patetiche.
His excuses were so weak as to seem pathetic.
Non fare quella faccia patetica per convincermi.
Don't make that pathetic face to convince me.
È patetico continuare a negare la verità davanti a tutti.
It is pathetic to keep denying the truth in front of everyone.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| patetico | masculine · singular |
| patetica | feminine · singular |
| patetici | masculine · plural |
| patetiche | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- In modern conversation, it almost always has a negative, contemptuous sense ('pitiable', 'laughable').
- Plural forms: masculine 'patetici', feminine 'patetiche'.