pity

noun

(uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.

(countable) Something regrettable.

(obsolete, Early Modern) Piety.

verb

(transitive) To feel pity for (someone or something).

(transitive, now regional) To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of.

Roots

pietaspity- · Latin · piety, pity

Synonyms for pity

commiserationn compassionn shamen sympathyn compassionateadj mercifulnessn mercyn sorrown sadnessn commiseratev clemencyn

Synonyms & related words for pity

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of pity — including commiseration, compassion, shame, sympathy, compassionate, mercifulness. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to pity

Explore words related to pity — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include pathos, commiserator, ruthful, commiserative, pitifulness, empathy, piteous, sorriness. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for pity

Common synonyms for pity include commiseration, compassion, shame, sympathy, compassionate, mercifulness, mercy, sorrow — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does pity come from?

The word pity breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pity-, from Latin pietas (“piety, pity”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.