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States and conditions

Synonyms for pathetic

Two senses of pathetic live in the word bank, and they take different synonyms. The sentence under each one is what tells them apart.

Tier 1, Foothills · 2 senses · adjective · Reason line included

Sense 1 of 2adjectiveTier 1, FoothillsStates and conditions

deserving or inciting pity

The shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic.

The sentence the app shows, and the only thing that settles which meaning is meant.

The true synonym

poor

Same sentence, swapped: The shabby room struck her as extraordinarily poor.

Close but different

These are the other three tiles the game puts on screen for this sense. Each one is a real word with a real meaning, and none of them is a synonym for pathetic as it is used in the sentence above.

  • ridiculous
  • painful
  • touching
Sense 2 of 2adjectiveTier 2, Treeline

inspiring mixed contempt and pity

Their efforts were pathetic.

The sentence the app shows, and the only thing that settles which meaning is meant.

The true synonym

pitiful

Same sentence, swapped: Their efforts were pitiful.

Close but different

These are the other three tiles the game puts on screen for this sense. Each one is a real word with a real meaning, and none of them is a synonym for pathetic as it is used in the sentence above.

  • painful
  • sharp
  • uncomfortable

One word a day, five rungs, and a reason under every answer

Synonym Stack plays from this exact library. The daily stack climbs from tier one to tier five, and every answer tells you what the word means and why the near miss missed.

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