pitifulness

5.4

A situation of weakness or suffering that makes people feel sorry

noun
/ˈpɪtɪfəlnəs/

: patetismo

And always one's pitifulness comes the confrontation with the mundane thoughts that preoccupy us.

Examples

The pitifulness of his condition prompted many to offer their help and support.
One could go on ad nauseam in contemplating the pitifulness of republicans.

Blog text (6)
In his ethnography of a Taiwanese begging community, Schak (1988:46) describes the concept of kho-lian-iu, or the "image of pitifulness," the means by which beggars inspire the charity of others.

Academic text (2009)
The pitifulness of the abandoned puppy brought tears to my eyes.
Her pitifulness during the interview made everyone feel sympathy for her situation.

Synonyms

piteousness

vspitifulness

Literature

1 8.3

A quality that makes people feel pity

is broader, stressing compassion and sorrow from weakness or suffering

patheticness

vspitifulness

Offensive

1 7.0

A quality of seeming weak that makes people feel sorry or look down on someone

emphasizes compassion and sorrow rather than mixed scorn

Antonyms

strength

∞ 1.2

Physical or mental power a person has to act

resilience

52 4.8

Ability to return to original shape or recover quickly after a problem

How Pitiable

patheticness

Offensive

1 7.0

pitifulness

5.4

misfortune

75 3.7

sadness

229 1.0

Surface Forms

pitifulness singular

pitifulnesses plural

Morphology

pitifulness = pitiful (transparent) = pity + ful + ness

Formed by the adjective 'pitiful' + the productive noun-forming suffix '-ness', giving the quality or state expressed by the adjective.

Etymology

The word pitifulness comes from pity ('feeling sorry for someone') plus the parts -ful ('full of') and -ness ('state or quality'), so it literally means the 'state of being full of or causing pity'. This is why pitifulness describes someone or something that makes you feel compassion or sorrow.