Meaning
pitiful, pathetic
- pitiful, pathetic, dreadful
- merciful, compassionate
In a sentence
La squadra ha giocato in modo pietoso e ha perso la partita.
The team played dreadfully and lost the match.
Perché sei così pietoso con lui?
Why are you so compassionate with him?
Non essere pietoso solo a parole.
Don't be compassionate only in words.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pietoso | masculine · singular |
| pietosa | feminine · singular |
| pietosi | masculine · plural |
| pietose | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Often sounds literary or elevated; in everyday speech, pietoso is less common than misericordioso or compassionevole.
- It can also mean "pitiful" or "pathetic" in context; check tone carefully, because this sense is common in modern usage.
- Agree it normally: pietoso, pietosa, pietosi, pietose.