PITY Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'pity' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pity are commiseration , compassion , condolence , and sympathy . While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress. // felt pity for the captives

Q: When is it sensible to use 'commiseration' instead of 'pity'?

The words commiseration and pity can be used in similar contexts, but commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort. // murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

Q: When can 'compassion' be used instead of 'pity'?

While in some cases nearly identical to pity , compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare. // treats the homeless with great compassion

Q: When might 'condolence' be a better fit than 'pity'?

The synonyms condolence and pity are sometimes interchangeable, but condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss. // expressed their condolences to the widow

Q: When could 'sympathy' be used to replace 'pity'?

In some situations, the words sympathy and pity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort. // went to my best friend for sympathy // in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

pity 1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-tē

Definition of pity

as in shame

a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a pity the woodchuck ate all the flowers after you put so much effort into the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in sympathy

the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune a woman of boundless pity who tried to care for every abandoned animal she found

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pity

2 of 2

verb

as in to love

to have sympathy for I always pity the people who have to work in this freezing weather

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pity contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pity are commiseration, compassion, condolence, and sympathy. While all these words mean "the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another," pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress.

felt pity for the captives

When is it sensible to use commiseration instead of pity?

The words commiseration and pity can be used in similar contexts, but commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort.

murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters

When can compassion be used instead of pity?

While in some cases nearly identical to pity, compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare.

treats the homeless with great compassion

When might condolence be a better fit than pity?

The synonyms condolence and pity are sometimes interchangeable, but condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss.

expressed their condolences to the widow

When could sympathy be used to replace pity?

In some situations, the words sympathy and pity are roughly equivalent. However, sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort.

went to my best friend for sympathy

in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pity

Noun

Before the recording was played, Judge William Sullivan warned jurors not to allow sympathy, anger, passion or pity to influence their verdict. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 And that’s a pity, because birthright citizenship brings many practical benefits to the United States today—arguments that the nation needs to hear, given the campaign being mounted against it. — Amanda Frost, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Verb

Don't pity me too much, though—I've compiled a few secrets from expert travelers on how to make the most of my time in the middle seat. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026 But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. — Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pity

Noun

There can be a lot of shame in the discussion if parents are in debt, Kerner said.

— Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Not just shame but gross unfitness for serving in a role at a state university.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of shame

Noun

These proposals, many times rooted in sympathy and love, were presented as alternatives to the political structures and market logic that had so often led to war, exploitation, hopelessness, and suffering.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
The glories of some former age may be lamented, and our sympathies directed to parties judged righteous or wronged.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sympathy

Noun

If someone consistently behaves with kindness, generosity, and consideration, even when these behaviors require effort or self-restraint, their motives may be less important than their actions.

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The singer was so well known for helping out that fake stories are hard to refute, because even extraordinary acts of kindness sound like something Parton would do.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of kindness

Verb

Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Instead of starting with a new component, its engineers worked to understand the hardware already available to NAVAIR.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of understand

Noun

The way the central couple navigates the twists, turns, roadblocks and unforced errors that entangle their budding relationship is the beating heart of these films.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
The approval was based on results from a trial that showed Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity in reducing the risk of major heart events.

— Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of heart

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pit vipers

pity

pitying

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“Pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pity. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pity

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verb

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