1. (

• hapless ,
• miserable ,
• misfortunate ,
• pathetic ,
• piteous ,
• pitiable ,
• pitiful ,
• poor ,
• wretched

) deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life" ;

2. (

• pathetic ,
• pitiable ,
• pitiful

) inspiring mixed contempt and pity; "their efforts were pathetic"; "pitiable lack of character"; "pitiful exhibition of cowardice" ;

3. (

• pathetic ,
• ridiculous ,
• silly

) inspiring scornful pity; "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett ;