Pathetic
Pathetic adjective - Deserving of one's pity.
Usage example: the plight of the homeless family was quite pathetic
Wretched is a synonym for pathetic in feeble topic. In some cases you can use "Wretched" instead an adjective "Pathetic", when it comes to topics like sad, squalid, depressing, pitiable. popular alternative
Nearby Words: pathos, pathetically, pathetics
Wretched
Wretched adjective - Falling short of a standard.
Usage example: a wretched attempt at writing an original song
Pathetic is a synonym for wretched in pitiful topic. You can use "Pathetic" instead an adjective "Wretched", if it concerns topics such as terrible, squalid, depressing, pitiable. popular alternative
Nearby Words: wretch, wretchedly
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
- That for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end, inevitably, irrevocably.
- Despite his appalling crimes he's portrayed as so pathetic, wretched and put-upon that he qualifies as this, as well as a Jerkass Woobie (in the film, anyway; the real-life Chikatilo seems to have been a good deal more Obliviously Evil).
Source: Film / Citizen X -
It's noticeable that during his period of trying to be good, Munny is an unsuccessful pig farmer eking out a wretched existence, is wracked by guilt, and comes across as kind of pathetic (note how often he falls off his horse, his beating by Little Bill).
Source: Film / Unforgiven
Cite this Source
Wretched and Pathetic. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/pathetic/wretched
Pathetic & Wretched. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/pathetic/wretched>.
Wretched or Pathetic. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/pathetic/wretched.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "pathetic" and "wretched" have occurred on timeline