# pitiful

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈpɪt.ɪ.fl̩/ · frequency rank #21,315

## Definitions
1. So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity.
2. Of an amount or number: very small.
3. Feeling pity; merciful.

## Etymology
From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful. By surface analysis, pit(i) + -ful.

## Common misspellings (10)
`iptiful`, `piitful`, `pitfiul`, `pitifful`, `pitiflu`, `pitifull`, `pitiufl`, `pittiful`, `ppitiful`, `ptiiful`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pitiful