0
Mr. Tom Posted 4 years ago
Vocabulary

Use of pathetic

Hi

I have seen the word pathetic being used in a positive sense also. To me, it has only negative connotations.

pathetic = causing pathos or pity

The victims looked very pathetic.

She cried pathetically.

Could you please give your take on this?

Thanks,

Tom

  

Top answer

Mr. Tom I have seen the word pathetic being used in a positive sense also. Could you please give your take on this?

— CalifJim

  • Mr.
  • Tom I have seen the word pathetic being used in a positive sense also.
  • Could you please give your take on this?
  • Yes.
  • It can go either way.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
Mr. TomI have seen the word pathetic being used in a positive sense also.
...
Could you please give your take on this?

Yes. It can go either way.

pathetic: having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity

(My mother used to use it more often in the compassionate way. "She didn't have much

0
0
Mr. TomCould you please give your take on this?

"Pathetic" can mean nothing more than "arousing pity", but this use is rapidly fading. I think you can call "pathetic" a worsened word. It now means "contemptible" to the average person.

There is also something called the pathetic fallacy, one application of which is the notion that animals think as feel

0

Related Questions