Piteous, Pitiable, Pitiful
These adjectives are used as synonyms these days. However, they are not synonyms; they mean same thing but their usages are different.
Let's see them one by one.
Piteous
Piteous is an adjective. It means causing someone to feel pity or sympathy.
- The woman cried out in a piteous voice after her husband died.
Pitiable
It also means deserving pity or causing you feel pity.
- We have many pitiable homeless children.
Pitiful
Pitiful means someone or something full of pity- deserving pity.
- She shook her old head and looked quite pitiful.
When to used these words:-
Piteous is used to mean something or someone which excites or creates pity in you, or appealing for pity. Piteous makes you feel sad and concern.
Like a little puppy has piteous groan. It groans in a way that excites pity.
Pitiable is used mostly in the sense of someone who deserves pity or needs pity. Someone who is worthy of pity.
A crying criminal is not pitiable, but a crying homeless child is pitiable.
Pitiful is used to the sense ''full of pity, or feeling pity", as it originates from pity + full-full of pity.
It means causing feelings of dislike or pity not being enough or not being good enough.
Someone or something that is pitiful is so sad, weak, or small that you feel pity for them.
a pitiful (very small) amount of food or money.
In a nutshell
Piteous makes you feel pity. Like an orphan puppy.
Pitiable who needs pity; who is worthy of pity.
Pitiful is full of pity.
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