pitiful

pitoyable, lamentable

Si mauvais ou faible qu’il ne mérite aucun respect.

En anglais simple : So poor or weak that it deserves no respect.

• That is a pitiful excuse.
• Their pitiful performance disappointed the fans.
• He made a pitiful attempt to blame someone else.

Synonymes : pathetic, contemptible

Contraires : admirable

Expressions courantes : pitiful excuse, pitiful attempt, pitiful performance

pitoyable

Si triste ou pénible qu’on éprouve de la compassion pour la personne ou la chose concernée.

En anglais simple : So sad or unpleasant that it makes you feel sorry for someone or something.

• The injured dog was a pitiful sight.
• We heard a pitiful cry from the next room.
• The children’s pitiful condition shocked the visitors.

Synonymes : pathetic, pitiable

Expressions courantes : pitiful sight, pitiful cry, pitiful condition

dérisoire, misérable

Bien moins important en quantité ou en nombre que ce qui est nécessaire ou attendu.

En anglais simple : Much smaller in amount or number than is needed or expected.

• They paid her a pitiful sum.
• Only a pitiful number of people came.
• The workers struggled to live on their pitiful wages.

Synonymes : meagre, paltry

Contraires : generous, substantial

Expressions courantes : pitiful amount, pitiful sum, pitiful wages